[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"permit-57":3},{"id":4,"acreageLimit":5,"changesFrom2021":6,"code":7,"commonProjects":8,"effectiveDate":15,"environmentalReview":16,"extension":17,"faq":18,"keyConditions":34,"linearFootLimit":41,"meta":42,"name":46,"pcnTrigger":75,"publicComments":54,"purpose":53,"relatedPermits":76,"seo":77,"shortName":47,"sourceDocumentUrl":73,"statutoryAuthority":48,"stem":78,"whoNeedsThis":55,"__hash__":79},"permits/permits/nwp-57.json",0.5,"The 2026 reissuance of NWP 57 maintains the standards established in the 2021 version, which originally separated electric and telecommunications activities from the former NWP 12. The Corps reevaluated the 1/2-acre loss limit and the 1/10-acre PCN threshold, determining that these specific triggers remain the most effective way to balance the need for infrastructure with the requirement to protect the aquatic environment from more than minimal adverse effects.\n\nWhile the national terms remain unchanged, the supporting decision document has been updated with the most recent environmental baseline data. This includes results from the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment. These updates ensure the Corps' cumulative impact analysis for the utility sector is grounded in the latest available ecological science regarding the status of the nation's wetlands and streams.","57",[9,10,11,12,13,14],"Installation of an overhead high-voltage transmission line across a river","Trenching for a fiber optic cable through non-tidal wetlands","Construction of a substation foundation in a jurisdictional area","Building a gravel access road for utility line maintenance","Replacement of old wooden power poles with steel towers in wetlands","Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for a telecommunications conduit","2026-03-15","The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 57 results in a 'no effect' finding for federally-listed endangered or threatened species and designated critical habitat. This finding is maintained by General Condition 18, which requires project-specific ESA Section 7 consultation if an activity 'might affect' listed resources. The PCN process for projects exceeding 1/10-acre allows district engineers to verify that line placements avoid sensitive habitats or use horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to bypass them.\n\nCompliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is ensured through General Condition 20. The PCN process allows the Corps to evaluate utility corridors for potential impacts to historic properties or archaeological sites. For Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), district engineers apply regional or case-specific conditions to ensure that trenching or pole installation does not cause more than minimal adverse effects on sensitive marine or estuarine environments.","json",[19,22,25,28,31],{"q":20,"a":21},"Do I need to submit a PCN for every utility line crossing?","No, a Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) is only required if the activity results in the loss of greater than 1/10-acre of waters of the United States or meets other specific triggers in the General Conditions.",{"q":23,"a":24},"What is the maximum acreage limit for a substation under NWP 57?","The total loss of waters of the United States for the substation and its associated features cannot exceed 1/2-acre.",{"q":26,"a":27},"Can I use NWP 57 for a natural gas pipeline?","No, NWP 57 is strictly for electric and telecommunications lines. Oil and natural gas pipelines are authorized under NWP 12.",{"q":29,"a":30},"Does this permit cover the access roads needed for the line?","Yes, NWP 57 authorizes the construction of access roads, provided they are the minimum width necessary and the total project loss stays under the 1/2-acre limit.",{"q":32,"a":33},"What are the rules for backfilling a trench in a wetland?","The trench must be backfilled in a way that does not drain the waters of the United States. Topsoil should generally be stripped and replaced as the top layer, and the area must be restored to pre-construction contours.",[35,36,37,38,39,40],"Total loss of waters of the U.S. cannot exceed 1/2-acre per project","PCN required if the loss of waters exceeds 1/10-acre","Underground lines must be backfilled to pre-construction contours","Overhead lines must maintain minimum clearances for navigation","Access roads must be the minimum width necessary and stabilized","Temporary fills must be removed and the site restored",null,{"path":43,"body":44,"title":74},"/permits/nwp-57",{"id":45,"code":7,"name":46,"shortName":47,"statutoryAuthority":48,"acreageLimit":5,"linearFootLimit":41,"pcnTrigger":49,"effectiveDate":15,"purpose":53,"changesFrom2021":6,"environmentalReview":16,"publicComments":54,"whoNeedsThis":55,"commonProjects":56,"keyConditions":57,"faq":58,"relatedPermits":64,"seo":70,"sourceDocumentUrl":73},"nwp-57","Electric Utility Line and Telecommunications Activities","NWP 57","10/404",{"type":50,"value":51,"unit":52},"threshold",0.1,"acre","Nationwide Permit 57 authorizes activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of electric utility lines and telecommunication lines in waters of the United States. This includes crossings of jurisdictional waters and the construction of access roads and substation facilities. The permit is designed to provide an efficient authorization path for critical infrastructure that powers and connects communities while ensuring that the total loss of waters does not exceed minimal levels.\n\nThe scope of this permit covers both overhead and underground lines. For underground lines, it includes the discharge of fill for bedding and backfill, provided there is no change in pre-construction contours. For overhead lines, it covers the installation of poles and towers, provided they are not placed in a way that obstructs navigation. The permit also covers 'single and complete' segments of larger utility systems, allowing for a phased regulatory approach to long-distance infrastructure projects.","During the public comment period, some commenters suggested that the acreage limit should be reduced for utility projects to encourage the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD). Others argued that utility lines provide essential services and that the 1/2-acre limit is necessary for the construction of substations and access roads in wetland-rich areas. The Corps maintained the 1/2-acre limit, noting that it applies only to permanent losses and that the mandatory PCN for larger impacts provides sufficient oversight.\n\nOther feedback focused on the definition of 'single and complete' projects for long-distance lines. The Corps reaffirmed its long-standing practice that each separate and distant crossing of a waterbody can be considered a single and complete project. This approach allows for the efficient permitting of large-scale networks while maintaining the ability of district engineers to evaluate cumulative impacts at the watershed level.","Compliance managers for electric cooperatives, telecommunications companies, and renewable energy developers use this permit. It is the primary authorization for installing fiber optic cables, power transmission towers, and the access roads required to maintain them across jurisdictional waters.",[9,10,11,12,13,14],[35,36,37,38,39,40],[59,60,61,62,63],{"q":20,"a":21},{"q":23,"a":24},{"q":26,"a":27},{"q":29,"a":30},{"q":32,"a":33},[65,66,67,68,69],"NWP-3","NWP-12","NWP-14","NWP-51","NWP-58",{"title":71,"description":72},"NWP 57: Electric Utility Lines & Telecom - 2026 Permit Guide","Nationwide Permit 57 (NWP 57) for electric power and telecommunications lines. 1/2-acre limit, 1/10-acre PCN threshold, and Section 10/404 compliance on Course Clear.","https://cdn.courseclear.io/usace/decision_documents/NWP-57-2026-Final-Decision-Document.pdf","Nwp 57",{"type":50,"value":51,"unit":52},[65,66,67,68,69],{"title":71,"description":72},"permits/nwp-57","xa9v8wDuOlhqgEmWJVHwb79fbJkHCmDuHq-nBl3nf8U"]