Louisville District Regulatory Division

Jurisdiction - Kentucky

The Louisville District administers regulatory authority over the majority of Kentucky, under Section 10 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This jurisdiction covers inland waterways, wetlands, floodplains, and associated aquatic resources across the state.

For more information on waters of the United States (WOTUS) and how jurisdiction is determined, please visit our About Jurisdiction page.

The Nashville District Corps of Engineers exercises regulatory jurisdiction over the entire Cumberland River and portions of the Tennessee River watershed areas.  A complete list of all streams subject to Corps regulatory authority is not available.  However, listed below are all navigable waters of the United States over which the Nashville District currently exercises regulatory jurisdiction under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  Inquiries concerning Department of the Army Permit requirements on tributary streams not listed below should be submitted on a case-by case basis to the Regulatory Branch.  Regulatory jurisdiction for the portions of the Tennessee River watershed in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia is administered by the Norfolk, Wilmington, and Savannah Corps Districts, respectively.

Cumberland River and Tributaries
Tennessee River and Tributaries

Conasauga River (The Conasauga River in Polk County, Tennessee, is considered navigable entirely within the state of Tennessee.) 

Permit Types

Find permitting information, application procedures, and helpful resources for your project in this jurisdiction.

Visit https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs/home/permitting to learn about the types of permits USACE issues.

Nationwide Permits (NWPs)

Public Notice for Federal Register Notice Announcing the Reissuance of the Nationwide Permits

Regional General Permits (RGPs)

20-RGP-01 (new link coming for reauthorized RGP)

24-RGP-01

Programmatic General Permits (PGPs)

23-PGP-01

Apply

All Department of the Army permit applications for work in the Louisville District's Kentucky jurisdiction must be submitted using the Regulatory Request System (RRS).

Begin Permit Application in RRS

Before You Apply

Use the RRS to determine your permit needs, access needed forms and complete the application process online.

Unable to use RRS?

Send all required information to NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil. You may send us files too large for email, up to 8 GB in size, through the DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) site at https://safe.apps.mil/. Send us an email at NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil to request an access code to use the DoD SAFE site for each set of documents you would like to send us.  Include "drop-off request" in the subject line of the email. Do not send paper copies of documents sent to us electronically.

Coordination Requirements

Depending on the scope and location, permit applications may require coordination with additional agencies before authorization.

Water Quality Certification (Section 401)

A certification from the Kentucky Division of Water may be required for discharges into state waters.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for activities that may affect listed species or designated critical habitats.

Historic Properties (NHPA Section 106)

Projects potentially impacting historic or cultural resources will require coordination with the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and/or Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs).

Section 408 Review

Projects affecting Corps-constructed civil works may require authorization under Section 408. For details, refer to the Section 408 Program.

Mitigation

Compensatory mitigation may be required for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources. Guidance is available at: About Mitigation.

Contact

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Louisville District, Regulatory Division
[PLACEHOLDER — Confirm district office address in Kentucky]

[PHONE NUMBER]
Please leave a voicemail; your call will be returned as promptly as possible.

[EMAIL ADDRESS]

Memphis District Regulatory Division

Kentucky

Permitting

Visit Memphis District's regulatory webpage for support in this jurisdiction.

Nashville District Regulatory Division

Jurisdiction - Kentucky

The Nashville District holds regulatory authority over portions of Kentucky—especially those within the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins. It oversees work within navigable waters, wetlands, and related aquatic resources.

Learn how “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) are defined and understand district boundaries by visiting the About Jurisdiction page.

The Nashville District Corps of Engineers exercises regulatory jurisdiction over the entire Cumberland River and portions of the Tennessee River watershed areas.  A complete list of all streams subject to Corps regulatory authority is not available.  However, listed below are all navigable waters of the United States over which the Nashville District currently exercises regulatory jurisdiction under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  Inquiries concerning Department of the Army Permit requirements on tributary streams not listed below should be submitted on a case-by case basis to the Regulatory Branch.  Regulatory jurisdiction for the portions of the Tennessee River watershed in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia is administered by the Norfolk, Wilmington, and Savannah Corps Districts, respectively.

Cumberland River and Tributaries
Tennessee River and Tributaries

Conasauga River (The Conasauga River in Polk County, Tennessee, is considered navigable entirely within the state of Tennessee.)

Permitting

Find permitting information, application procedures, and helpful resources for your project in this jurisdiction.

Visit https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs/home/permitting to learn about the types of permits USACE issues.

Nationwide Permits

Public Notice for Federal Register Notice Announcing the Reissuance of the Nationwide Permits

Regional General Permits

20-RGP-01 (new link coming for reauthorized RGP)

24-RGP-01

Programmatic General Permits

23-PGP-01

Apply

All Department of the Army permit applications for Kentucky projects within the Nashville District must be submitted through the Regulatory Request System (RRS).

Begin Permit Application in RRS

Before You Apply

Use the RRS to determine your permit needs, access needed forms and complete the application process online.

What You'll Need

• Project purpose and detailed description
• Maps and site drawings (plan view, cross-section)
• Wetland delineation and photos (if applicable)
• Avoidance and minimization narrative (if applicable)

Unable to use RRS?

Send all required information to NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil. You may send us files too large for email, up to 8 GB in size, through the DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) site at https://safe.apps.mil/. Send us an email at NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil to request an access code to use the DoD SAFE site for each set of documents you would like to send us.  Include "drop-off request" in the subject line of the email. Do not send paper copies of documents sent to us electronically.

Coordination Requirements

Depending on your project’s nature, coordination with other agencies may be required before permit authorization.

Water Quality Certification (Section 401)

Projects involving discharges may require certification from the Kentucky Division of Water.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

If your project has potential impacts on listed species or habitats, coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is necessary.

National Historic Preservation (NHPA Section 106)

Projects potentially affecting historic or cultural resources must be coordinated with the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), when applicable.

Section 408 Review

Projects affecting Corps-built structures require separate authorization under Section 408. Learn more via the Section 408 Program page.

Mitigation

Unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources may require compensatory mitigation. For guidance on mitigation options, see: About Mitigation.

Contact

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Nashville District, Regulatory Division—Kentucky Inquiries
3701 Bell Road
Nashville, TN 37214

(615) 369‑7500
Please leave a detailed voicemail; we'll return your call as soon as possible.

NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil