Nationwide Permit 36 authorizes activities required for the construction, repair, or replacement of boat ramps in waters of the United States. This permit is intended to provide a streamlined process for providing water access while ensuring that the physical footprint of the ramp does not cause more than minimal environmental harm. The scope includes the discharge of concrete, rock, crushed stone, or gravel into forms, or the use of pre-cast concrete planks. The permit requires that the ramp be the minimum width necessary to provide access and that it be constructed in a manner that prevents erosion and minimizes impacts to the surrounding aquatic environment. It covers both Section 10 navigable waters and Section 404 discharges.
The 2026 reissuance of NWP 36 maintains the same national terms and conditions as the 2021 version with no substantive changes. The Corps reevaluated the permit's quantitative limits, such as the 50-cubic-yard discharge threshold and the 20-foot width limit, and determined they remain effective in ensuring that authorized boat ramps result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. While the permit text remains consistent, the supporting decision document has been updated with the latest environmental baseline information. This includes data from the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment, ensuring the cumulative impact review is based on the most current national-scale ecological data available.
Private homeowners, local governments, marina operators, and park departments use this permit to build or repair boat launch facilities. It is the primary permit for projects providing recreational or small-scale commercial vessel access to lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 36 results in a 'no effect' finding for federally-listed endangered or threatened species and designated critical habitat. This is based on General Condition 18, which requires project-specific ESA Section 7 consultation if an activity 'might affect' listed resources; no activity is authorized until that process is complete. Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is managed through General Condition 20. If a proposed boat ramp has the potential to affect historic properties, a pre-construction notification is required, and the district engineer must complete the NHPA review process before work can begin. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) is protected through regional and case-specific conditions that minimize impacts on sensitive aquatic areas.
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