Army Corps of Engineers Reissues 57 Nationwide Wetlands Permits for 2026–2031

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finalized its reissuance of 56 existing Nationwide Permits (NWPs) and issued one brand-new permit, governing construction and development activities in or near U.S. waterways and wetlands. Published January 8, 2026, these permits — which streamline federal environmental authorization under the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act — will take effect March 15, 2026 and remain valid through March 15, 2031.

Key Points

  • What: The Army Corps reissued 56 existing Nationwide Permits and created 1 new NWP, with modifications, under the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act.
  • Who: Developers, infrastructure operators, energy companies, municipalities, and anyone conducting work in or near jurisdictional waters or wetlands in the U.S.
  • When: Effective March 15, 2026; permits expire March 15, 2031.
  • Impact: Projects that qualify for NWPs can receive federal authorization in an average of 55 days instead of the 253-day average for standard individual permits.

What Are Nationwide Permits and Why Do They Matter?

Nationwide Permits are a category of general permits that allow the Corps to pre-authorize classes of activities — things like pipeline crossings, bank stabilization, residential development, and renewable energy installations — that have only minimal environmental impact on waterways and wetlands.

Without an NWP, each project would need an individual permit, a process that averaged 253 days in FY2024. With NWP coverage, most projects can proceed after a Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) review averaging 55 days — or, for non-reporting NWPs, without any notification at all.

What's Covered by the 57 Permits?

The reissued NWPs cover a wide range of activities, including:

  • Energy infrastructure: Oil and gas pipelines, electric utility lines, land-based renewable energy facilities, and offshore structures
  • Transportation: Linear transportation projects, bridges, and boat ramps
  • Water management: Stormwater facilities, water reclamation and reuse, flood control maintenance
  • Ecological work: Aquatic ecosystem restoration, living shorelines, fish passage improvements, dam removal
  • Commercial and residential: Residential developments, commercial/institutional developments, marinas, and shellfish mariculture
  • Mining and extraction: Surface coal mining, underground coal mining, and coal remining

One new NWP was added — NWP 59, covering Water Reclamation and Reuse Facilities — reflecting growing infrastructure investment in water recycling.

How the PCN Process Works

Some NWPs are "non-reporting" — project proponents can proceed without notifying the Corps, as long as they follow all applicable conditions. Others require a PCN before work begins.

Key PCN rules:

  • If the Corps doesn't respond within 45 days of a complete PCN, most applicants can proceed.
  • Exceptions apply for activities involving endangered species (GC 18), historic properties (GC 20), Wild and Scenic Rivers (GC 16), and certain coal remining projects — these require written Corps approval before starting.
  • District engineers can add site-specific conditions or require a full individual permit if a project's environmental impact exceeds the "minimal" threshold.

Regional Variation

Division engineers can impose additional regional conditions on NWPs to account for local environmental sensitivities. These can only further restrict — never expand — what the NWPs allow. Applicants should check with their regional Corps district for any supplemental requirements that apply in their state or watershed.

What You Should Do

If you have an active project or pending authorization under the previous NWPs (issued in 2021), check whether your permit verification carries over or needs to be updated under the new 2026 terms. Projects that began under prior NWPs may be able to continue, but new PCN submissions after March 15, 2026 will be evaluated under the reissued permits.

Contact your regional Corps district office or visit the Corps Regulatory Program website to confirm which NWPs apply to your project and whether a PCN is required. For direct inquiries, contact Ms. Katherine McCafferty at 513-310-4196.