DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is accepting public and stakeholder comments regarding the Section 401 Water Quality Certification of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Nationwide Permits 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, and a proposed new Nationwide Permit A (Activities To Improve Passage of Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms).
Nationwide Permits:
Nationwide Permits are general permits authorizing certain activities under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, which involve discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
Applicants seeking authorization to discharge to waters of the United States in Iowa must also have a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the DNR. With a few exceptions, projects permitted using a nationwide permit with DNR certification do not require DNR’s individual certification. Exceptions identified in the Iowa Antidegradation Implementation Procedure (2010) do require individual certification.
Written comments regarding the proposed certifications and antidegradation analysis can be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30. Please send written comments via email to Section401WQC@dnr.iowa.gov or by mail to Iowa DNR, Attn: Section 401 Water Quality Certification, 6200 Park Ave. Ste. 200, Des Moines, Iowa, 50321.
View the proposed water quality certification, antidegradation analysis, and draft nationwide permits under DNR 401 Public Notices at www.iowadnr.gov/waterqualitycertification..