Consultation on CWA Section 404 Program Requests: Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act

The EPA determined that approval of state and tribal requests to assume a CWA section 404 program is a discretionary action. As such, going forward, the EPA has determined that it should consult with the Services under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act  if a decision to approve a state or tribal CWA section 404 program may adversely affect ESA-listed species or designated critical habitat (see "Memorandum: Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Consultation for State and Tribal Clean Water Act Section 404 Program Approvals").

• Memorandum on Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Consultation for State and Tribal Clean Water Act Section 404 Program Approvals (PDF). (8 pp, 321 K)
• Endangered Species Act Section 7
• Federal Register Notice “Request for Comment on Whether EPA’s Approval of a Clean Water Act Section 404 Program Is Non-Discretionary for Purposes of Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation”  (PDF)(3 pp, 248 K)
• EPA Docket No. EPA-HQ-OW-2020-0008

The EPA will also engage in consultation consistent with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR part 800 on all complete program requests to assume a CWA section 404 program received from states and tribes (see “August 24 Letter from former Assistant Administrator Dave Ross to former Chairperson Aimee Jorjani”). 

• Letter to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (PDF). (2 pp, 182 K)
• National Historic Preservation Act (PDF) 
• Link to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

• Memorandum on Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Consultation for State and Tribal Clean Water Act Section 404 Program Approvals (pdf) (313.61 KB, August 27, 2020)
  Memorandum stating EPA has determined we have discretion when approving state and tribal requests to assume a Clean Water Act Section 404 program. Thus, EPA will consult on the approval under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act Section, if such approval may affect ESA-listed species.
• Request for Comment on Whether EPA’s Approval of a Clean Water Act Section 404 Program Is NonDiscretionary for Purposes of Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation (pdf) (242.23 KB, May 21, 2020, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2020-0008)
  May 21, 2020, Federal Register Notice in which EPA sought public comment on whether the Agency should reconsider its position that consultation under Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) is not required when the EPA approves a State or Tribe’s request to assume a Clean Water Act Section 404 dredged and fill permit program.
• Letter to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (pdf) (177.95 KB, August 24, 2020)
  Letter to Chairperson of ACHP confirming EPA will engage in NHPA Section 106 consultation on CWA Section 404(g) program approvals.