Federal Requirements

• 401 Water Quality Certification: Applying for a federal permit or license to conduct any activity that might result in a discharge of dredge or fill material into water or non-isolated wetlands or excavation in water or non-isolated wetlands.
• Bridge Permit: Construction or modification of bridges over certain navigable waters.
• Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Federal Consistency: Federal activity, projects requiring a federal license or permit and Federal Assistance Programs proposed within any of Washington's 15 coastal counties. (See notes.)
• Discharge of Dredge or Fill Material Into Water (Department of the Army Permit (Section 404)): If you plan to conduct ground-disturbing activities in waters of the United States, including wetlands, you may need authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). A variety of activities typically require Department of the Army authorization when they occur in waters of the United States. They include, but are not limited to, placement of fill material, grading, mechanized land clearing, and redeposit of excavated/dredged material. The Corps authorizes activities by issuing individual and general permits. Under Section 404, individual permits include Standard Individual Permits, and general permits include Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits. The Corps determines which type of permit is needed. A Department of the Army permit can include authorization under Section 10 and/or Section 404. If you have any questions about the Corps permit process, contact the Corps project manager assigned to the county where the work is proposed. The Corps strongly recommends a pre-application meeting for major projects. During a pre-application meeting you can discuss your project with the Corps and other regulatory and natural resource agencies. If you would like to set up a pre-application meeting, contact the Corps.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License: See Permit Description for details.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): NEPA applies to all major federal actions: federal projects or any project requiring a federal permit, receiving federal funding, or located on federal land. The list of NEPA categorical exclusions is determined in rules specific to each federal agency.
• Private Aids to Navigation (PATON) (Non-Bridge Projects): Installation of a fixed structure or floating object within the waters of the United States.
• Work in Navigable Waters (Department of the Army (Section 10)): If you plan to conduct work in, over, or under navigable waters of the United States you must apply for authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The Corps authorizes activities by issuing individual and general permits. Individual permits include Standard Individual Permits and Letters of Permission, and general permits include Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits. The Corps determines which type of permit is needed. A Department of the Army permit can include authorization under Section 10 and/or Section 404. If you have questions about the Corps permit process, contact the Corps project manager assigned to the county where the work is proposed.