FJ Sayers Dam Master Plan Revision / Missions / Regulatory

Regulatory Correspondence

Please submit any correspondence, including compliance certification forms, via email at
or via mail:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Regulatory Branch (CENAB-OPR)
2 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21201

The USACE Regulatory Program – Importance to the Public video highlights the important work Regulatory Program Managers perform for our Nation every day. Click on this icon below to see this video.

A new RRS promo video is available at the link below.

LINK TO THE VIDEO: USACE RRS Promo 90-sec (youtube.com)

LINK TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: RRS FAQS

In Baltimore District, the Regulatory Request System (RRS) should be used to submit requests for pre-application meetings and jurisdictional determinations, to report a potential violation, to apply for projects within the boundaries of Washington DC, and to learn the basics of the Regulatory Program.  Please do not use the RRS to apply for a permit in Pennsylvania or Maryland, and certain military installations within northern Virginia (i.e., Fort Belvoir, Fort Myer, and the Pentagon).  For information on how to obtain a Department of the Army authorization or to obtain copies of the permit application forms within the Baltimore District,  please visit  https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permits/.

 

 

Regulatory Overview

The mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory Program is to protect the Nation's aquatic resources while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. USACE has been regulating activities in the nation's waters since 1890. The program was initially created solely to prevent obstructions to navigation. An early 20th century law gave USACE regulatory authority over the dumping of trash and sewage. The passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 greatly broadened this role by giving USACE authority over dredging and filling in the waters of the United States including many wetlands.

 
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Regulatory Latest News

October 1, 2025 - USACE introduces new Regulatory Request System module

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today the launch of a new “No Permit Required” module on its Regulatory Request System (RRS), an innovative online application portal designed to enhance transparency and improve public engagement with the USACE Regulatory Program.

This new module allows the public to answer a series of questions about their proposed activity to determine if authorization from USACE is required. Questions are provided in stepwise sequential order, and if the information provided through the RRS results in a response that no permit is required for the proposed activity, users will immediately be provided correspondence. If the information provided results in a response that a permit is required, the user is provided the option to apply for a permit or preapplication meeting through the appropriate RRS application module.

Questions on the new module or RRS in general should be directed to the appropriate USACE district office.

RRS is accessible at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs.

September 19, 2025 – USACE, Baltimore District publishes Sparrows Point Container Terminal Final EIS NOA in the Federal Register

The Baltimore District has published the Sparrows Point Container Terminal Final Environmental Impact Statement Notice of Availability in the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/19/2025-18175/environmental-impact-statements-notice-of-availability

Final EIS | Final EIS Appendices

May 12, 2025 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourages use of Regulatory Request System for an improved permitting experience.

Last year the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers introduced its new Regulatory Request System (RRS), an online application portal that allows the public to submit permit applications and other information when requesting permission to dredge, fill or conduct activities in jurisdictional wetlands and waters of the U.S.

RRS is accessible at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs.

RRS users can submit individual permit applications, general permit pre-construction notifications, jurisdictional determination requests, and other information needed during the permit evaluation process using easy-to-follow online submission forms. Applicants can also track the status of their requests using a user-friendly dashboard. 

RRS benefits the applicant by eliminating the burden associated with the preparation and mailing of paper applications. It also reduces some of the effort associated with processing applications and data entry making the permitting process more efficient. Click here to learn more about the benefits of RRS (RRS Testimonial Video).

For more information on the USACE Regulatory Program visit https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/.

For further details or to provide feedback about the RRS, please contact USACE at rrs@usace.army.mil.

April 22, 2025 - ***Updated*** The Maryland Wetland Assessment Methodology (MDWAM) Guidebook is updated to Version 1.1 on the Baltimore District Website.

Requests for a few changes to the MDWAM Guidebook have been made and updated to the new Version 1.1. The updated MDWAM Guidebook is located at: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Mitigation/.

March 26, 2025 - The Fish Passage for Mitigation Beta Tool (Fish Passage Tool or FPBT) has been posted to the Baltimore District Webpage for use by Corps project managers and the general public. It is provided as Appendix F of the Maryland Stream Mitigation Framework V.1. Final located at: https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Mitigation/.

The Fish Passage Tool provides an additional option to estimate compensatory mitigation stream crediting (functional feet) for fish barrier removal projects in Maryland.

The purpose of the Fish Passage Tool is to: (1) to encourage strategic fish passage projects as a form of compensatory mitigation for impacts under CWA Section 404; (2) to create a credit accounting system which rewards proposals based on the ecological benefits of the proposed projects; (3) to align with the Maryland Stream Mitigation Framework (MSMF) by using functional feet as the unit of credit, allowing for combination with other forms of mitigation such as stream preservation and restoration work; (4) Improve public safety through the removal of obsolete dangerous structures; (5) Increase the availability of mitigation credits for CWA Section 404 permit applicants.

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