Posted on September 26, 2022
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District announced that it received authority to issue alternative/emergency permitting procedures in response to conditions resulting from Hurricane Fiona.
These alternate procedures will be effective for a six-month period, through March 21, 2023. A Corps-issued public notice announcing these alternative/emergency procedures is available at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/
Additional information on Emergency Permitting procedures is also available at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/, with direct links to Emergency Permitting for the Public at https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll11/id/5821 and an Emergency Permit Request Form at https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll11/id/5822.
The alternative/emergency procedures are used to authorize actions or work that is considered to be emergency in nature, which may include, but not limited to dredging to restore navigation and relieve flooding; stabilization of eroded shorelines; restoring roads, bridges, utility lines and other infrastructure; repair and replacement of authorized structures including docks and bulkheads; installing water intake structures, and removal and disposal of debris in waters of the U.S.
The Corps of Engineers regulations define an emergency as a situation, which would result in an unacceptable hazard to life, a significant loss of property or an immediate, unforeseen, and significant economic hardship if corrective action requiring a permit is not undertaken within a time period less than the normal time needed to process the application under standard procedures.
A map of Jacksonville District Regulatory Permit Office locations and phone numbers is available at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Office-Locations/
The President of the United States declared an emergency for the Antilles, which can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/09/18/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-puerto-rico-emergency-declaration/
The Jacksonville District, Regulatory Division, has been coordinating with responsible government agencies, including the Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service to establish expedited coordination procedures.
The Corps is neither a proponent nor opponent of any proposed project. The Corps’ mission is to provide the regulated public with fair and reasonable decisions while providing protection of the Nation’s aquatic resources and navigation.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.
