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The Regulatory Program

The Department of the Army's Regulatory Program is one of the oldest in the federal government. Initially, it served a simple purpose: to protect and maintain the navigable capacity of the nation's waters. Changing public needs, evolving policy, court decisions and new statutory mandates have changed several aspects of the program including its breadth, complexity and authority.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, through the Regulatory Program, administers and enforces Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Under RHA Section 10, a permit is required for work or structures in, over or under navigable waters of the United States. Under CWA Section 404, a permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Many waterbodies and wetlands in the nation are waters of the United States and are subject to the Corps' regulatory authority.

The Regulatory Program is committed to protecting the Nation's aquatic resources and navigation capacity, while allowing reasonable development through fair and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities that occur in the Nation's waters, including wetlands.

WATCH: Regulatory informational video

We Are Paperless

New requests for a pre-application meeting, jurisdictional determination, or permit should be submitted through the Regulatory Request System (RRS) at rrs.usace.army.mil.  You can also report a potential violation using the RRS.  Other requests will continue to be accepted in digital format though the Sacramento District Regulatory mailbox at SPKRegulatoryMailbox@usace.army.mil.












Learn more about submitting a permit application here.

Latest News

  • January 6, 2025 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announces the launch of the Public Notice module on the Regulatory Request System (RRS). The new feature allows users nationwide to search, review, and comment on projects being reviewed under the Regulatory Program, significantly enhancing transparency, accessibility, and efficiency. The Public Notice module provides the public with access to proposed projects requiring a standard permit, proposed mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs under review, and proposed general permits or Section 404 Letter of Permission procedures.  It organizes notices by state and district, which can be viewed in a table format or on an interactive map. Users can easily search for notices by project name or address and submit comments directly through the platform, streamlining public engagement and reinforcing USACE's commitment to improving transparency and the permitting process. The RRS is a web-based platform, currently in its beta version, designed to simplify the permitting process and enhance user experience. In addition to the new Public Notice Module, RRS enables users to submit permit applications, request jurisdictional determinations, and schedule pre-application meetings, all through a user-friendly interface. Explore the Regulatory Request System and its new features by visiting rrs.usace.army.mil. For additional information or to provide feedback, please contact rrs@usace.army.mil.

  • November, 27 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announces the availability of new and updated Engineer (ENG) forms for the Regulatory Program. All forms for use nationwide can now be accessed at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Regulatory-Program-Forms/.  Note that most regulatory requests, such as requests for permits and jurisdictional determinations, can be completed online through USACE’s Regulatory Request System at rrs.usace.army.mil.

  • 28 October 2024 - The final Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods (SDAMs) for the Arid West and the Western Mountains regions are now available. SDAMs provide a rapid evaluation of streamflow duration for use whenever there is uncertainty concerning the duration of stream flows. For information about SDAMs, visit  https://www.epa.gov/streamflow-duration-assessment.

  • 19 August 2024 - To request a permit or jurisdictional determination or report a violation, submit it through the Regulatory Request System at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs.  If you do not have a point-of-contact at the Sacramento, you can submit other inquiries through our mailbox at SPKRegulatoryMailbox@usace.army.mil.  The mailbox, CESPK-Regulatory-Info@usace.army.mil, is no longer in use and is not monitored. 

  • May 15, 2024 – Permit applications are now available in RRS!  USACE is pleased to announce that the new national online application portal and management platform, known as the Regulatory Request System (RRS) now includes an electronic submission option for permit applications. This platform has been introduced to modernize our permit application process and to address our users' expectations by providing a straightforward and transparent process for the submittal of permit requests.  RRS is a web-based platform currently in a beta version that enables users to submit pre-application meeting requests, jurisdictional determination requests, and now applications for individual and general permits. This new system aims to streamline the process, improve efficiency, and provide a more user-friendly experience for our applicants. We believe that RRS will not only benefit our users by simplifying the application process but will also enhance our ability to effectively manage and review permit requests. We are confident that this modernization initiative will lead to improved customer satisfaction and greater overall efficiency within our Regulatory Program. We encourage users to explore and utilize the new Regulatory Request System to take advantage of its benefits and features. Visit rrs.usace.army.mil today!  For additional information on or to provide feedback on RRS, please contact us using the following email: rrs@usace.army.mil.

Our Commitment to Public Service

Public Service is a Public Trust. As Corps Regulators, we must earn this trust and, to keep this trust, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects the following principles:

Professional. We will conduct ourselves in a professional manner in dealings with all our customers, including applicants, violators, agencies, interest groups and the general public.
Fair and Reasonable. We will be open-minded, impartial, and consistent in our interactions with all our customers to ensure all actions and decisions are free from bias and are not arbitrary or capricious. Customers will be treated equally and with tolerance.
Knowledgeable. We will remain knowledgeable of applicable laws, regulations, and scientific and technical advances which affect our program.
Honesty. We will be truthful, straightforward, and candid in all dealings with our customers.
Timeliness. We will strive to provide our customers with timely regulatory responses regardless of whether those responses are favorable or adverse.
Accountability. We will be decisive in all actions and accept responsibility for any of our decisions and resulting consequences. All decisions will be factual and properly documented.
Respect. We will treat our customers with dignity, courtesy, compassion, and sensitivity.

Contact information

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Questions about the Regulatory Program or 408 Program?

Call: (916) 557-5250
Email: SPKRegulatoryMailbox@usace.army.mil

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