Permitting guidelines for Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup

Published May 10, 2010

NEW ORLEANS – Two emergency permitting procedures can be used within the New Orleans District for oil spill containment and cleanup efforts resulting from the BP Deepwater Horizon incident.

Most activities involving containment and cleanup operations are authorized by Nationwide Permit 20, Oil Spill Cleanup, provided that they comply with provisions established in the National Oil and Hazardous Pollution Contingency Plan

In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has issued General Permit NOD-20, Emergency Operations Within the New Orleans District, for those activities not authorized by Nationwide Permit 20. If there is not sufficient time to obtain a permit through the normal review process, NOD-20 can be issued for activities regarding imminent safety and/or environmental hazard, loss of property, or immediate economic hardship. More detailed information on the emergency permit is available on our Web site at www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/regulatory/reg_program.asp.

All applications under General Permit NOD-20 are to be submitted to the following address:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

New Orleans District

ATTN: CEMVN-OD-S (Emergency Request)

P.O. Box 60267

New Orleans, LA 70160- 0267.

If additional information is needed regarding emergency permitting procedures relating to this incident, please contact the following:

Pete Serio Martin Mayer

504.862.2255 504.862.2276


Release no. 10-083