[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48665-48666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23757]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Proposal To Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits; Notice

AGENCY: Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In the August 9, 2001, issue of the Federal Register (66 FR 
42070) the Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced that it was soliciting 
comments for the reissuance of the proposed Nationwide Permits (NWPs), 
General Conditions, and definitions with some modifications. The notice 
announced that comments must be received by September 24, 2001. We have 
received several requests to extend the comment period, which ends 
September 24, 2001. To ensure ample opportunity to review the proposed 
NWPs and to provide meaningful comments, we are extending the comment 
period 15 days to October 9, 2001.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to HQUSACE, ATTN: CECW-OR, 441 ``G'' Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich White at (202) 761-4599 or access 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Home Page at: 
http//:www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nationwide Permits (NWPs) expire on 
February 11, 2002, except the NWPs issued in 2000 which expire on June 
7, 2005. We are extending the comment period to allow additional time 
to submit comments on the NWPs, due to the recent tragic events in New 
York and Washington. This extension would reduce an already tight 
schedule to develop the final NWPs. Therefore, we have determined that 
it is necessary to return to the 60 day time period for the states to 
complete their decisions on issuance of 401 water quality 
certifications pursuant to the Clean Water Act, and their decisions to 
agree or disagree with our decisions regarding compliance with the 
state Coastal Zone Management Plans pursuant to the Coastal Zone 
Management Act. This time period is from the date of the publication of 
the final NWPs until the date the NWPs become effective. Historically, 
this time period has been 60 days, except for the 401/CZM decision 
processes for the 2000 replacement NWPs, when we provided a 90-day time 
period. Due to the major changes involved in the 2000 replacement NWPs, 
we believed that the extra time was warranted in that instance. We had 
hoped to continue with the 90 day time period; however, the development 
of the proposed modifications to the NWPs took longer than expected. 
Further, the current proposal has very few changes to the existing 
NWPs; therefore, the states should be able to accomplish their review 
in a 60-day time period. For these reasons, along with the extension

[[Page 48666]]

of the comment period, we need to return to the standard 60 day time 
period for the states' decision on the currently proposed NWPs. For 
those states that are unable to complete their 401/CZM decisions by the 
effective date of the NWPs, they may issue 401 certification or agree 
with our CZM position on an interim basis followed by a final decision 
in a reasonable period of time. This process was initiated in 1991 and 
may be used again by the states, if necessary.
    In the August 9, 2001, issue of the Federal Register (66 FR 42070) 
the Corps also announced that a public hearing for the proposed NWPs 
would be held on September 12, 2001. Due to the attack on the World 
Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the hearing was 
postponed to September 26, 2001. Updated information regarding the 
public hearing was published in the September 18, 2001, Federal 
Register.

    Dated: September 19, 2001.
Lawrence A. Lang,
Deputy, Operations Division, Directorate of Civil Works.
[FR Doc. 01-23757 Filed 9-20-01; 8:45 am]
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