Nationwide Permit 9 authorizes the placement of structures in established fleeting and anchorage areas to facilitate the safe mooring of vessels. These structures typically include buoys, floats, and other similar devices that are essential for maritime logistics and the organization of vessel traffic within designated zones. The permit’s scope is limited to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. It specifically covers structures and work in navigable waters but does not authorize the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Authorized activities must be located within fleeting or anchorage areas specifically established by the U.S. Coast Guard. This ensures that the structures are placed in zones already recognized for these maritime uses, minimizing conflicts with other navigational interests.
The 2026 reissuance of NWP 9 includes no substantive changes to its terms or conditions when compared to the 2021 version. The Corps reevaluated the permit and determined that the existing qualitative and quantitative limits remain sufficient to ensure that authorized activities result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. While the permit text remains identical, the supporting decision document was updated with current environmental baseline data. This include results from newer assessments like the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment to ensure the environmental review reflects the most recent scientific data available.
Barge operators, shipping companies, and port authorities use this permit to install necessary mooring infrastructure. It is essential for maritime professionals who need to place buoys or floats within U.S. Coast Guard-designated areas to manage vessel anchorages and barge fleets.
The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 9 results in 'no effect' on federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. This finding is supported by General Condition 18, which requires project-specific ESA Section 7 consultation if an activity 'might affect' listed species; no such activity is authorized until the consultation process is successfully completed. Compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act is managed through General Condition 20. Non-federal permittees must submit a PCN if an activity has the potential to affect historic properties. For Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), the Corps found that district engineers can add regional or activity-specific conditions to ensure that mooring structures do not cause more than minimal adverse effects on these resources.
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