San Francisco District Regulatory Division
As chief federal steward of wetlands - marshes, tidelands and vernal pools - the Corps' regulatory team has responsibility for regulating and enforcing rigorous environmental standards while balancing appropriate development. The Corps’ efforts to balance society’s many needs officially begin with the permit process. In cases where an impact on aquatic resources is unavoidable, organizations must obtain a permit from the Corps. This process is designed to be fair and flexible and to provide timely decisions. In many cases, the Corps works with potential applicants during the planning and design of projects so that problems can be spotted early on and addressed, saving development costs while still reducing potential environmental harm. The Corps is committed to ensuring that the public has the opportunity to provide input on projects that will have more than a minimal impact on the environment. In carrying out its regulatory program, the Corps works closely with a diverse array of federal, state, tribal and local government agencies, nonprofit groups, businesses and individuals.
To learn more about the specifics of the regulatory program, including regulations and policies, applicable laws, recent announcements and court decisions visit: http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/reg_materials.aspx This site also has links to related organizations, including Corps district offices and other federal agencies that deal with wetlands and environmental resources.
Regulatory Division Contacts
Report a violation
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
Interagency Meetings
Regulatory Permitting
There are three basic types of permits: Standard Permits, General (including Nationwide) Permits and Letters of Permission. Standard Permits are issued for projects that are likely to have more than a minimal impact on aquatic resources. General Permits, which cover projects that will have minimal impact, and Letters of Permission are granted on a quicker timeline.
- How to apply for a permit - application form and basic instructions for providing the information required for a complete application
- Current Public Notices - for projects within the San Francisco District
- Nationwide Permit Program
- Regional General Permits
- Completed Jurisdictional and No Jurisdiction Determinations, and Information on Appeals
- WRDA Funding and Permitting
- SAFETEALU Funding and Permitting
- EMERGENCY PERMITS
Mitigation
The Corps regulatory program supports the national goal of “no overall net loss” of wetlands. For permitted activities that result in unavoidable losses, the Corps requires replacement wetlands to offset those losses. The Corps places a significant emphasis on ensuring that the ecological quality of impacted and replacement wetlands are the same. There are three mechanisms for providing compensatory mitigation: permittee-responsible compensatory mitigation, mitigation banks and in-lieu fee mitigation.
Corps Jurisdiction and Regulations
District Regulatory Policies
- Public Notices Explaining Local Policies
- Policies on the Santa Rosa Plain
- Long-Term Management Strategy (LTMS) San Francisco Bay Dredging Overview (NMFS web page - by clicking this link you will be leaving the Corps website)
- LOP procedures for gravel mining in Humboldt County
Links to other regulatory Agencies
Customer Survey
We at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch are committed to improving service to our customers and would like to know how well we have been doing. Who are our customers? You are our customers if you submitted a permit application, requested a jurisdictional determination or wetland delineation, or scheduled a pre-application meeting with us. Other customers include those of you who receive our Public Notice and/or comment(ed) on a particular project or our work in general, because of your interest in the Regulatory Program. To identify how we can better serve you, we need your help. Please take the time to fill out this brief survey and mail it back to us. Your honest opinions will help us determine areas in which we need to improve.
