Renewable Energy Along Rivers? Tell the USACE What You Think

As all of us who work in river restoration know, we cannot complete our projects without obtaining a plethora of permits from various governmental agencies. On average, a typical project will require between 10 and 18 permits.

One of the most important permits is the ubiquitous US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit and, in some cases, the Section 10 Rivers and Harbor Act of 1899 permit.

According to the USACE press release of February 16, 2011 (which I've just read thanks to fellow blogger Trouthead at Club EcoBlue Blog), the Corps is seeking comments on its proposal to renew and revise nationwide permits for work in wetlands and other waters. In addition, AND THIS IS THE BIGGIE,  USACE is proposing to issue two new nationwide permits that pertain to authorizing renewable energy generation projects.

These nationwide Section 404 and Section 10 permits authorize activities that are similar in nature and cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources separately or on a cumulative basis. Activities range from work associated with aids to navigation and utility lines to residential developments and maintenance activities. Many of the nationwide permits being proposed remain unchanged from 2007, according to the USACE press release, the last time the nationwide permits were authorized.
 
USACE division engineers may add, after public review and consultation, regional conditions to nationwide permits in order to protect local aquatic ecosystems such as fens or bottomland hardwoods or to minimize adverse effects on fish or shellfish spawning, wildlife nesting or other ecologically critical areas.

A public notice to solicit comments on the proposed set of revised nationwide permits was published in the February 16, 2011 Federal Register at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-02-16/pdf/2011-3371.pdf. USACE will accept written comments for a 60-day period that ends on April 18, 2011. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to NWP2012@usace.army.mil or through the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov at docket number COE-2010-0035. The current set of nationwide permits expires March 18, 2012. The nationwide permits being proposed will replace the existing set.

Additional information about the Corps’ regulatory program can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/cecwo_reg.aspx.

April 18th is a hard deadline for comments, so don't delay in adding your voice.

Here's to a Happy New Year Along the Arroyo Seco

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I want to take a moment to focus on why I write this blog: to teach us all how to love, respect and restore our fresh river waterways.

Since the 97th Rose Bowl Game is being played today, it seems appropriate to spend a moment talking about the historic Arroyo Seco whose waters flow through Brookside Golf Course and just to the west of the 'granddaddy of them all' football stadium.  Pictures speak louder than words, so here's the video I produced and directed which showcases the important urban river restoration work that the City of Pasadena and Arroyo Seco Foundation project team completed along the Arroyo Seco in 2008. The next time you visit the Rose Bowl/Brookside Park, take a walk along the Arroyo just south of Parking Lot I and discover nature in the city.

Our work is never done, so please make one of your New Year's Resolutions the commitment to come join us for the 22nd Great River Cleanup on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Details here: http://folar.org/?page_id=5

Enjoy...and may all your dreams come true!