Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) permits are legally required for any project that takes place in or over any navigable waters within the United States. This includes construction, dredging, and other projects in the Florida Keys. The Army Corps assesses the benefits and potential challenges of proposed projects and makes decisions that aim to protect the country’s aquatic resources and ecosystems. The process of acquiring a permit can be both costly and time-consuming, so it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that everything is done correctly and thoroughly on your end before planning a project and requesting the necessary permits. Here are 3 tips for getting your ACOE permit done fast.
1. Get The Right Information
It is crucial to fill out your permit application as thoroughly as possible before submitting it to the Army Corps. The Corps has a long, fairly specific list of criteria that all project plans must meet, which are even more specific to the project type. If you do not fill out your application correctly and adhere to all Corps-specific criteria, your application will be sent back right away and you will be asked to correct your plan. Your project plan and permit application must comply with all Army Corps criteria in order to move forward with obtaining a permit.
2. Get a Benthic Survey in Advance
Often, the Army Corps will require that a benthic survey is conducted in a particular area ahead of a project. While this is common, this can be a time-consuming task as there are only so many marine biologists and experienced professionals on hand in the Florida Keys who are able to conduct a benthic survey. Experts recommend beginning the benthic survey process before even submitting your initial permit application so that by the time the Army Corps asks for it, it is already complete.
3. Hire An Experienced Permit Agent
The key to speeding up the process of obtaining a permit as much as possible is hiring a knowledgeable and experienced permit agent. The right permit agent will be familiar with the rules and regulations in place by the Army Corps and will ensure that everything is done correctly on your end, to avoid going back and forth with the Corps. Hiring the right permit agent will also give you some choice in how quickly a project is completed. For example, an agent might let you know that your particular project could qualify for a Regional General Permit (RGP) or a Nationwide Permit (NWP) with just a few changes, which could save you about 6 months of time. Even if you are not interested in following through with obtaining this type of permit, having the option can be helpful, and having an experienced permit agent by your side throughout the process of obtaining a permit can help give you the information you need to speed things up.
Securing permits in the Florida Keys can be a complicated, tedious process that requires help from experts with knowledge of local laws and requirements. Rapid Permits and Engineering makes the process of obtaining permits easy, so you can reclaim control over your projects and save yourself from a time and money-consuming hassle. Contact us today at 305-916-1400 or shoot us an email at info@rapidpermitting.com to learn more today and get your project started!
