USA: Army Corps Reissues General Permit for State of Vermont

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District has reissued the statewide Vermont General Permit (GP) for minimal-impact activities in U.S. waters within the state of Vermont.

The prior General Permit expired on Dec. 5, 2012. The Vermont GP continues the expedited review process for activities in Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. A public notice has been issued in accordance with 33 CFR 325.10 to ensure potential applicants for permits are informed of the requirements and of the steps required to obtain permits for activities in waters of the U.S.

General Permits are encouraged under the President’s plan to streamline state and Federal regulatory programs. This GP is designed to authorize activities formerly covered under the previous GP program and the prior GP that expired on Dec. 5, 2012. This reissued GP became effective on Dec. 6, 2012. Continued use of the GP process in place of the nationwide permits (NWPs) provides important benefits to the public, including simplifying the process, expediting decisions and providing necessary environmental protection.

Projects with minimal individual and cumulative effects on the aquatic environment will be approved administratively under this GP. Projects not meeting the GP’s terms and general conditions, of which General Condition 3 requires projects authorized by the GP to have minimal effects and secondary (indirect) and cumulative adverse environmental impacts, are subjected to an Individual Permit review.

Federal exemptions, which are not necessarily the same as the state of Vermont’s exemptions, are also not altered by the GP. In addition, for projects authorized pursuant to this GP, project proponents must obtain the appropriate or state approvals when required in order for this GP authorization to be valid.

Projects that the Corps authorized under the previous Vermont GP prior to issuance of this GP shall remain authorized as specified in each authorization.

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Press Release, December 12, 2012