Nationwide Permit 1 authorizes the placement of aids to navigation and regulatory markers in navigable waters of the United States. These structures must be approved by and installed in accordance with the specific requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure they effectively serve their purpose without creating undue hazards. The scope of this permit is limited to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, meaning it covers structures and work in navigable waters but does not authorize the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. It is primarily designed to facilitate safe navigation by marking channels and potential underwater hazards.
The 2026 reissuance of NWP 1 did not include any substantive changes to its terms or conditions compared to the 2021 version. During the rulemaking process, the Corps of Engineers reevaluated the permit's potential impacts using institutional knowledge and public interest factors but determined that no modifications were necessary to ensure only minimal adverse environmental effects. Although the core text remains the same, the Corps updated the underlying environmental assessments and public interest reviews to reflect the most current ecological data and legal landscape. This reissuance confirms that the activities authorized by NWP 1 continue to provide significant benefits to maritime safety while resulting in negligible environmental footprints.
Mariners, port authorities, and private dock owners typically use this permit when they need to install buoys, beacons, or regulatory markers to guide vessel traffic or identify hazards. It is used in the maritime transportation industry and by local government agencies responsible for maintaining safe navigable channels.
The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 1 has 'no effect' on federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. This is because General Condition 18 ensures that no specific activity can be authorized under the NWP if it 'may affect' listed species until a project-specific Section 7 consultation with the USFWS or NMFS is completed. Regarding other environmental protections, the permit is found to have negligible effects on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and water quality. Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is maintained through General Condition 20, which requires case-by-case review and consultation if an activity has the potential to affect historic properties.
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