1. High submittal of requests: We are currently receiving a very high number of applications and jurisdictional determination requests, which has caused a longer response time for the Regulatory staff. Increased requests are a result of fluctuating lake levels in the Great Lakes, green energy initiatives (e.g. solar and wind development), increased commercial/residential development, recent regulation changes, and other factors.

2. Recent regulation changes: There have been several substantial regulation changes in the past 12-18 months, which have required significant time for staff to be trained and for certain regulatory processes to be modified. These process changes have resulted in additional workload/staff time, which has also resulted in a longer response time for Regulatory staff.

If you have not been contacted by a Corps of Engineers Project Manager regarding your request, and you would like to inquire regarding the project status, please look at the 'Check Permit Status' page [click here] and then if needed, please contact us using the appropriate email address [click here], or the project manager that has been assigned to your file. If your file has been assigned a number (ex. LRB-20XX-XXXX), please reference this number in your email.

Please note that early coordination makes the process easier for you! By contacting the Corps of Engineers early in your planning, we can help guide you and understand your project’s needs and identify potential challenges. This will help us to work towards the appropriate authorization in as timely a manner as possible. Pre-application meetings are encouraged, particularly for larger projects.

We appreciate your patience and understanding, as we work through these challenges to help you get the authorization you need to complete your project.

*Buffalo District Regulatory Branch*

Last Updated 9/22/2021.