The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issues nationwide permits (NWPs) to authorize certain activities that require Department of the Army permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The NWPs authorize activities that have minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic environment. The NWPs authorize a variety of activities, such as aids to navigation, utility lines, bank stabilization activities, road crossings, stream and wetland restoration activities, residential developments, mining activities, commercial shellfish aquaculture activities, and agricultural activities.
IMPORTANT NEWS ON NATIONWIDE PERMITS
On January 8, 2026, the Corps published the 2026 Nationwide Permits in the Federal Register. The 56 reissued and one new nationwide permit in the final action are necessary for work in streams, wetlands and other waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. There is no major changes from the 2021 Nationwide Permits that are set to expire on March 14, 2026. Here is a link to that Federal Register notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00121/reissuance-and-modification-of-nationwide-permits
In addition, the New Orleans District issued a public notice on June 18, 2025 on proposed regional conditions for the state of Louisiana associated with the reissuance of the 56 existing NWPs and one new NWP. Comments submitted are currently being evaluated in the developement of the regional conditions. Once finalized, the New Orleans District will issue a public notice with those regional conditions.