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We don't usually cc applicants on add info requests here at Corps Regulatory - at least in my office. My initial thought/fear is that cc'ing clients on every email with their consultants might not come across well (like cc'ing someone's boss). I agree, though, that even if the applicant doesn't...

Great advice. I'll just add that consultants/expediters hold a reputation with their reviewers based on their professionalism and quality of work. If a consultant comes across to reviewers as error-prone, or hard to work with, or someone who plays fast and loose with the requirements, that could...

Here's the latest from EPA Administrator Zeldin this week: So they're clearly not wild about "delineator" being a paid profession lol. For what it's worth, they're not a fan of my profession either. But I think this is more talking point than something they can realistically follow through on...

Yeah, delineations require documentation of various indicators for wetland boundaries, stream/lake boundaries (OHWM), and - more recently - RPW status. Some aren't readily observable, e.g., 50/20 rule for wetlands or aquatic macroinvertebrates for flow duration, but that's what's called for to...

I'm not convinced you need permitting/tracking for this. I think having the fee/penalty schedule, like @W3 Planning and Research mentioned, would be the important thing. In San Marcos, CA, where I'm at, you get two false alarms free per year, then a penalty of $75 and $150 for the third and...

Keeping an eye out for a revised definition of RPW in particular. See comments submitted by Pacific Legal Foundation (https://pacificlegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/PLF-FINAL-WOTUS-Recommendations-Mar-27-2025.pdf). This is the same group that represented the Sacketts and brought their case...

Good insight. USACE Regulatory introduced its Regulatory Request System last year but district's haven't exactly embraced it (from my perspective, at least). It was developed based mainly on the perspectives of one east coast district and HQ's desire to more closely monitor application status at...

Yeah, EPA rescinded all CSC JD policy memos the other day. A wetland is now only jurisdictional if it directly abuts an RPW/TNW - i.e., the three-parameter wetland boundary has to intersect the OHWM. Wetlands any higher in the floodplain or connected only by a discrete conveyance are no longer...

I'm sensing an opportunity for a new HGTV reality series here..."Building Department Nightmares" or something (lol).

We haven't had firings yet but have been under hiring freeze for almost 2 years for unrelated reasons. Lost about 1/3 staff during that time with no apparent effect on permitting efficiency (ironically we've actually improved in some areas). Enforcement is minimal/non-existent though. The...

That's really neat, thanks for sharing! My only hesitation would be putting the blame for slow permitting all on the consultants b/c of something like this. There are plenty of slow/poor performing permitting staff out there too. I noticed sample size is pretty small for most agents in that...

One of DOGE's reforms is for the federal government to adopt a performance culture a la Silicon Valley. As stated in the "Fork in the Road" email that went out to all federal workers on Jan 28: How does your office "reward and promote those that exceed expectations"? And how do you...

Good question. EPA is in charge of developing the Corps' Section 404 regulations so it will be interesting to see how far they roll things back. The 2023 Sackett decision removed ephemeral waters and lots of wetlands from our jurisdiction. I expect that Mr. Zeldin and Corps ASA will issue regs...

LOL. Yeah, I definitely telework best when I'm the only one in the house. During COVID, my wife and I were both working from home, and had to manage having our two boys (ages 6 and 2 at the time) around as well. That was super stressful...I remember feeling at my limit constantly throughout...

I hear you, but yeah, not sure I'm up for driving in five days/week. Speaking only for myself, I feel that I've been perfectly professional/productive working from my home office...but I know that not everyone does WFH well. The administration just offered all federal employees a buyout offer...

Yeah I have a guy in my office who actively tries to be in 5 days/week, even though he doesn't have to (yet). He openly chats about how bad for his marriage it would be if he had to be around his wife all day/every day ("I love her but...", lol). That aside, I can relate to wanting to get out...

I guess the smaller counties are simply assuming the work was completed based solely on the fact that a permit was pulled? I'm assuming the larger counties are able to follow up because they have the resources to do so, whereas the smaller counties probably don't. It is interesting how...