The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District has reissued the statewide New Hampshire Programmatic General Permit (PGP) for minimal-impact activities in U.S. waters within the state of New Hampshire.
The previous PGP expired on June 28, 2012. The New Hampshire PGP continues the expedited review process for activities in Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.
General Permits are encouraged under the President’s plan to streamline state and Federal regulatory programs. This PGP is designed to authorize activities formerly covered under the previous PGP program and the prior PGP that expired on June 28, 2012. This reissued PGP became effective on Aug. 3, 2012.
Continued use of the general permit 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 PGP. Projects not meeting the PGP’s terms and conditions, of which General Condition 3 requires projects authorized by the PGP to have minimal effects and secondary (indirect) and cumulative adverse environmental impacts, are subject to an Individual Permit review.
Federal exemptions, which are not necessarily the same as the state of New Hampshire’s exemptions, are not altered by the PGP. In addition, for projects authorized pursuant to this PGP, project proponents must obtain the appropriate local or state approvals when required in order for this PGP authorization to be valid.
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Dredging Today Staff, August 8, 2012