Document KzXvw6kXRqL7yp5YnRLwByRLr

Message (Digitally Signed) From: Barger, Cindy S CIV USARMY HQDA ASA CW (US) [cindy.s.barger.civ@mail.mil] Sent: 8/7/2018 3:23:11 PM To: Green, Eugene [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=c2dbb63d76fb41039e3cfa426aflc69e-Green, Eugene]; Strickler, Jacob [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=5489cecf7a204a6da8f2d98e81b9b58e-Strickler,]; Collis Adams [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=user5d8c4412]; valbrecht@hunton.com; craig_aubrey@fws.gov; tb4@azdeq.gov [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=cce8257ce0364a849ebd0eef472b2d9c-tb4@azdeq.g]; Laureen Boles [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=userl9d68323]; peg.bostwick@aswm.org; dave.davis@deq.virginia.gov; Ex. 6 tdriscoll@nfudc.org; david.evans@deq.virginia.gov; fishk@michigan.gov; richardgftar@fcilrez.com; goldmancarterj@nwf.org; Ex. 6 iwilliam.l.james@usace.army.mil; les.lemm@state.mn.us; Susan.Lockwood@dep.nj.gov; 1'ni:'.mtz@staf'.oT.'s; Brabe@umich.edu; Ross, David P [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=119cd8b52ddl4305a84863124ad6d8a6-Ross, David]; gary.setzer@maryland.gov; Szerlog, Michael [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=23a7f634594b4b58ba4a96e77clblaaf-Szerlog, Michael] CC: Krause, Katherine J CIV USARMY HQDA ASA CW (US) [katherine.j.krause.civ@mail.mil] Subject: Army Issues Memorandum to Empower States & Tribes in their Permitting Authority Attachments: smime.p7s Dear NACEPT Assumable Waters Committee - Pi ease see recent news rel ease bel ow. Thank you. Cindy S . Barger Envi ronmental Pianner Project Pianning and Review Offi ce of the Assi stant Secretary of the Army (Civi1 Works) 441 G St. NW, Rm: 6Q91 Washi ngton, DC 20014 Tel: (202)761-0038 Cell: i Ex.6 ] * * * * * T tz rv c iT 'frre z rfn r'frit'T e y n c v tit * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Washi ngton (August 7, 2018) - The U.S. Army today released a memorandum taki ng initial steps to empower States and tri bes in assumi ng Secti on 404 permi t authori ty under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In taki ng on thi s authori t y , States and tri bes can accelerate job-creati ng economi c development and infrastructure, al1 while conti nui ng to protect the envi ronment. Letters are also being sent to al1 fifty State Governors and the tri bal 1eaders for al 1 the Federally recognized tri bes encouragi ng them to assume thi s tradi tional Federal permi tti ng abi1it y . "Thi s acti on supports thi s admi ni strati o n 's dedi cati on to infrastructure by provi di ng states and tri bes the cl ari ty they need to better balance thei r envi ronmental protecti on mi ssion with thei r economi c development goals," said R.D. lames, Assi stant Secretary of the Army for Civi 1 Works. "In my vi ew, implementi ng Secti on 404 in thi s cl ear and deci sive manner not only adheres to the 1anguage of the statute and the intent of Congress when enacti ng Secti on 404(g), but it is also in the overal1 best interest of the Army and the regulated public." Background: Under Secti on 404 of the Cl ean Water A c t , a permi t is requi red before dredged or fill materi al can be di scharged into navi gable waters or certai n wetlands. Activi ti es undertaken usi ng such a permi t are infrastructure projects 1ike hi ghways or ai rports, mi ni ng operati o n s , dam or 1evee construction, or other economi c development. To date, only Mi chigan and New Jersey have assumed admi ni strati on of the Secti on 404 program - the Army Corps of Engi neers retai ns permi tti ng authori ty for the rest of the country. The guidance memorandum issued by the Assi stant Secretary of the Army for Civi1 Works is consistent with the Assumable Waters Subcommi tt ee's majori ty vi ew regardi ng the scope of retai ned waters under Secti on 404(g). The memorandum will ensure that the scope of waters that must be retai ned by USACE under Secti on 404(g) of the CWA is properly 1imi ted to waters that are jurisdictional under Secti on 10 of the Ri vers and Harbors Act of 1899, excludi ng waters that have only had hi stori cal navigation us e, and includi ng wetlands adjacent to Secti on 10 waters from the high-water mark of the water 1andward to an admi ni strati ve boundary agreed upon by the state or tri be and USACE. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 1 ED 002061 00159831-00001 By clarifying what waters States and tribes may assume, the guidance addresses a key barrier to State and tri bal assumpti o n . When States and tri bes assume the Secti on 404 permi t program, they protect the waters to the same 1evel as the federal government and often increase efficiencies and remove redundancies in permi tti ng processes. Many States have determi ned that State and tri bal implementati on of the Secti on 404 permit program saves substantial money as they are able to incorporate the review process into thei r exi sti ng programs. This acti on supports infrastructure investment as removal of redundanci es in State/tri bal and federal revi ews will help provi de for more timely compl eti on of permi t revi ew requirements. Thi s memorandum expressly does not affect the scope of "waters of the Uni ted States" under the CWA. The memorandum and more information is avai1able a t : https://www.army.mil/asacw/ Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 1 ED 002061 00159831-00002