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Page 6 WATFR TALK Spring/Summer 1996 <br />~~~fl lr~ <br />By Bruce Gerbig <br />The DNR is working to streamline water <br />permitting in MN. During the past two Legislative <br />Sessions; laws were passed allowing the DNR to <br />issue permits to government units and the general <br />public for classes of projects having minor environ- <br />mental impacts. This general permit authority is ' <br />being approached as a means to include a number of <br />individual projects within a permit, allowing Division <br />staff to devote additional time to early project <br />coordination and technical assistance. A wide range <br />of Division "customers", including private landown- <br />ers, city, township and county staff and state and <br />federal agencies would receive such assistance. The <br />Army Corps of Engineers has also recently simplified <br />its general permitting procedure for projects already <br />regulated and approved by the DNR. <br />. Bridge and Culvert General Permits <br />The authority to issue general permits to <br />governmental subdivisions for classes of projects <br />having minor environmental impact was provided in <br />legislation enacted during the 1.995 legislative <br />session. Guidance to Division staff initiated discus- <br />sions with impacted staff regarding issuance of <br />general permits covering public bridge and culvert <br />projects. New bridge and culvert projects, and <br />reconstruction of bridges and culverts, have histori- <br />cally comprised the Division's single largest category <br />of permit projects; at times, comprising as many as <br />35% of all permit applications statewide. <br />Included in the guidance are provisions to <br />issue one permit to cover a number of projects for a <br />period of time lasting up to five years, without <br />having to provide individual application materials <br />and fees prior to project construction. Development <br />of permit conditions is being coordinated by Division <br />of Waters field staff, with. input from affected DNR <br />and other public review agencies.. <br />A key element of the general permit process <br />is an annual review session to review the past year's <br />projects, document project specifications, discuss <br />upcoming proposals, and to better improve communi- <br />cation and coordination. Implementation of these <br />new permits will take place at the field level, through <br />the DNR Regional and Area Hydrologists. All <br />County Highway Engineers have been provided a <br />mailing on these new procedures, and a number of <br />them have initiated permit applications. The first <br />general permit issued for these types of projects was <br />issued to the Scott County Highway Department on <br />May 24, 1996. Since then, an additional 10 general <br />permits have been issued, and division staff are <br />working with MNDOT District Engineers and other <br />counties on development of similar permits. <br />General Permit Development <br />In addition to the authority granted in 1995 to <br />issue permits to governmental subdivisions, the 1996 <br />legislative session granted the DNR the authority to <br />issue general permits to the public. This change will <br />allow the DNR to work more closely with other <br />government agencies on projects where several <br />agencies are involved, and in areas where projects <br />can be permitted under specification developed <br />through a locally based review process. After bridge <br />and culvert projects, the area where the Division. of <br />Waters has historically experienced the la best <br />numbers of permit applications on a state-wide basis <br />has been in the area of shoreline protection. Many of <br />these projects that reduce erosion and maintain <br />property and water quality are regulated, designed <br />and or costlshared by local units of government. <br />The Division intends to work with these units <br />of government to determine if certain types of <br />projects might be included in a general permit that <br />could be issued by the DNR. <br />DNR -Army Corps of Engineers Permit <br />Relationship Improved <br />In 1984, the St. Paul District U.S. Army <br />Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the DNR signed a <br />Cooperative Agreement stating that the DNR would <br />provide copies of permit applications and issued <br />permit documents to the Corps. This Agreement <br />made it possible for the Corps to issue General <br />Permit-O1 (GP-O1) to the general public of the State <br />of Minnesota for 19 types of specific projects within <br />waters of the United States that were permitted. by the <br />...continued on page 8 <br />