PUBLIC NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

PUBLIC NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT APPLICATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY REGIONAL GENERAL PERMITS PROPOSED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS On June 15, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a public notice to issue three regional general permits (RGPs) providing authorization under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for certain activities subject to Corps jurisdiction in waters of the U.S. within the boundaries of, and off the coast of, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: (A) Boat Ramps; (B) Dredging, Disposal of Dredged Material, Beach Nourishment, Rock Relocation, Rock and Debris Removal, and Recreational Beach Grading and Raking; and (C) Structures and Moorings. The RGPs will streamline authorization for activities with minimal environmental impact. These proposed RGPs are similar to existing Massachusetts RGPs 3, 4, 5, and 7 issued by the Corps in 2023; those existing RGPs will no longer be available for new activities once the three proposed RGPs are final and in effect. The Corps New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord MA 01742-2751, has requested Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for the three proposed RGPs, pursuant to 314 CMR 9.00. To view the proposed RGPs, visit: https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices/Article/4515618/nae-2026-00009/ For additional information or to submit comments regarding the Corps' issuance of the proposed RGPs, please contact the New England District at cenae-r-ma@usace.army.mil. Please send written comments on MassDEP Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification of the proposed RGPs by July 15, 2026, to Lisa Rhodes, MassDEP Wetlands Program, at lisa.rhodes@mass.gov (preferred) or by mail to 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114. Additional information on MassDEP certification may be obtained by request from Ms. Rhodes. Any ten persons of the Commonwealth, any aggrieved person, or any governmental body or private organization with a mandate to protect the environment that has submitted written comments to MassDEP may also appeal the MassDEP WQC. Failure to submit comments before the end of the public comment period may result in the waiver of any right to an adjudicatory hearing. June 25 2026 LNEO0539660