Public Notice of Water Quality Certification and Federal Consistency Review

Proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permits and New England District Regional Conditions

The New England District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposes to implement Nationwide Permits (NWPs), a type of general permit issued on a nationwide basis to streamline the authorization of activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 that result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects, for a five-year period beginning March 15, 2026. Of the existing NWPs numbered 1 through 59 and proposed NWP A, the New England District is not proposing to implement NWPs 2, 21, 24, 25, 30, 49, or 50. The New England District is also proposing several conditions that would be applicable within New England or Maine specifically. The Corps has requested a Water Quality Certification from Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act for activities eligible to use NWPs. This action is also subject to review for consistency with the enforceable policies of Maine Coastal Program under 15 CFR 930, subpart C. More information about the NWPs and New England District Regional Conditions can be found by referring to news bulletins published by the Department of Marine Resources. Public comments will be accepted through November 29, 2025. Comments on consistency with the enforceable policies of the Maine Coastal Program can be sent to [email protected]. Comments related to Water Quality Certification can be sent to [email protected] (DEP) and to [email protected].

More information can be found below:

2026 NWPs CZMA and WQC Request (pdf, 780 KB)

2026 NWPs Updated Regional Conditions (pdf, 1.1 MB)