SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: The purpose of this notice is to announce the February 18

SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: The purpose of this notice is to announce the February 18, 2014, release of the revised joint application form for the review of proposals that may affect water resources in Minnesota including wetlands, tributaries, rivers, and lakes.

PROJECT PURPOSE: On February 18, 2014, the Corps and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)released the revised and updated Joint Application Form for Activities Affecting Water Resources in Minnesota. The form replaces the August 2007 version used by most of the public and also eliminates separate application forms used for transportation projects and wetland delineation review requests. The purpose of this notice is to announce the February 18, 2014, release of the revised joint application form for the review of proposals that may affect water resources in Minnesota including wetlands, tributaries, rivers, and lakes.

Public Notice ISSUED: 18 MAR 2014

ISSUANCE OF REVISED JOINT APPLICATION FORM FOR AGENCY DETERMINATIONS AND APPROVALS FOR ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WATER RESOURCES IN MINNESOTA

I. PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE. The purpose of this notice is to announce the February 18, 2014 release of the revised joint application form for the review of proposals that may affect water resources in Minnesota including wetlands, tributaries, rivers, and lakes. II. BACKGROUND. Since 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District (Corps) and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) have utilized a joint application form for activities requiring approval under their respective regulatory programs. In 2012 the agencies jointly initiated a review of the existing form with the intent of improving its format and streamlining the application process for the public. The agencies also attempted to acknowledge and, wherever possible, accommodate, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources transition to an online permitting system for its Public Waters program referred to as MPARS (Minnesota DNR permitting and Reporting System). On February 18, 2014 the Corps and BWSR released the revised and updated Joint Application Form for Activities Affecting Water Resources in Minnesota. The form replaces the August 2007 version used by most of the public and also eliminates separate application forms used for transportation projects and wetland delineation review requests. III. CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE REVISED JOINT APPLICATION FORM. The revised joint application form is organized into five parts and five attachments (A-E). The five parts are the basic information required for the Corps and Wetland Conservation Act Local Government Unit (LGU) to initiate review of a project. Part One: Applicant Information Part Two: Site Location Information Part Three: General project/Site Information Part Four: Aquatic Resource Impact Summary Part Five: Applicant Signature The attachments to the joint applicant form are for activity/request specific information and consist of: Attachment A: Delineation reviews, wetland type determinations, and jurisdictional determinations Attachment B: Exemption and no loss determinations Attachment C: Avoidance, minimization, and alternatives analysis documentations Attachment D: Compensatory mitigation,

Operations - Regulatory Attachment E: Local road replacement program qualification Information on what to submit for various types of activities and where to send applications is provided in the required information and submission instructions on pages 1 and 2 of the joint application form. Members of the public with questions regarding what information should be provided are encouraged to contact Corps, BWSR, or their local government unit staff using the website links provided on page 2 of the form. IV. PHASE IN OF THE REVISED JOINT APPLICATION FORM. The public is encouraged to use the revised joint application form for all requests for determinations and authorizations. Requests submitted using the 2007 version of the form will continue to be processed during a three month transition period (beginning with the date of this public notice) to accommodate applicants who may have started to prepare an application prior to February 18, 2014. V. AVAILABILITY OF THE REVISED JOINT APPLICATION FORM. The revised joint application form is available on the St. Paul District website at http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx under the "Joint Permit Application" tab. Copies of the form may also be obtained from any of the Corps' offices in Minnesota. Locations and contact information are provided on the form. The form is also available on the BWSR website on the wetlands page under "Wetland Regulation" and then under "Wetland Conservation Act Forms and Guidance" (http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/wetlands/wca/index.html) VI. COMMENTS ON THE REVISED JOINT APPLICATION FORM. Comments on the revised joint application form may be sent to Mr. Tim Smith at the Corps via email to mvp-reginquiry@usace.army.mil or to Mr. Ken Powell at BWSR via email at ken.powell@state.mn.us. The agencies plan to review comments on the form after an initial six month use period and make any necessary changes at that time.

Tamara E. Cameron Chief, Regulatory Branch

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