§233.60. Requirements for eligibility. — Inbound Citations

(i) Any incidental addition, including redeposit, of dredged material associated with any activity that does not have or would not have the effect of destroying or degrading an area of waters of the U.S. as defined in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this definition; however, this exception does not apply to any person preparing to undertake mechanized landclearing, ditching, channelization and other excavation activity in a water of the United States, which would result in a redeposit of dredged material, unless the person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Corps, or EPA as appropriate, prior to commencing the activity involving the discharge, that the activity would not have the effect of destroying or degrading any area of waters of the United States, as defined in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this definition. The person proposing to undertake mechanized landclearing, ditching, channelization or other excavation activity bears the burden of demonstrating that such activity would not destroy or degrade any area of waters of the United States.

(ii) Incidental movement of dredged material occurring during normal dredging operations, defined as dredging for navigation in navigable waters of the United States, as that term is defined in 33 CFR part 329, with proper authorization from the Congress or the Corps pursuant to 33 CFR part 322; however, this exception is not applicable to dredging activities in wetlands, as that term is defined at § 232.2(r) of this chapter.

(iii) Certain discharges, such as those associated with normal farming, silviculture, and ranching activities, are not prohibited by or otherwise subject to regulation under Section 404. See 40 CFR 232.3 for discharges that do not require permits.

(3) Whenever the Regional Administrator determines that the proposed revision is substantial, the Regional Administrator shall publish and circulate notice to those persons known to be interested in such matters, provide opportunity for a public hearing, and consult with the Corps, FWS, and NMFS. The Regional Administrator shall approve or disapprove program revisions based on whether the program fulfills the requirements of the Act and this part, and shall publish notice of the decision in the Federal Register. For purposes of this paragraph, substantial revisions include, but are not limited to, revisions that remove waters from the retained waters description (other than de minimis removals), as well as revisions that affect the scope of activities regulated, criteria for review of permits, public participation, or enforcement capability. Revisions to an Indian Tribe's assumed program that would add a new geographic area to the approved program require that the Regional Administrator determine that the Tribe meets the eligibility criteria in § 233.60 with regard to the new geographic area and constitute substantial revisions.

(3) All Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same.

Indian Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, group, or community recognized by the Secretary of the Interior and exercising governmental authority over a Federal Indian reservation.

Interstate agency means an agency of two or more States established by or under an agreement or compact approved by the Congress, or any other agency of two or more States having substantial powers or duties pertaining to the control of pollution.

NMFS means the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Retained waters description: The subset of waters of the United States over which the Corps retains administrative authority upon program assumption by a State as identified through the process at § 233.11(i). The description shall address, in the case of State assumption, the extent to which waters on Indian lands are retained.

RHA section 10 list: The list of waters determined to be navigable waters of the United States pursuant to section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and 33 CFR part 329 and that are maintained in Corps district offices pursuant to 33 CFR 329.16.

State means any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or an Indian Tribe, as defined in this part, which meet the requirements of § 233.60. For purposes of this part, the word State also includes any interstate agency requesting program approval or administering an approved program.

State Director (Director) means the chief administrative officer of any State or interstate agency operating an approved program, or the delegated representative of the Director. If responsibility is divided among two or more State or interstate agencies, Director means the chief administrative officer of the State or interstate agency authorized to perform the particular procedure or function to which reference is made.

State 404 program or State program means a program which has been approved by EPA under section 404 of the Act to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into all waters of the United States except those identified in the retained waters description as defined in § 233.2.

An Indian Tribe may apply to the Regional Administrator for a determination that it meets the statutory criteria which authorize EPA to treat the Tribe in a manner similar to that in which it treats a State, for purposes of the section 404 program. The application shall be concise and describe how the Indian Tribe will meet each of the requirements of § 233.60. The application should include the following information:

(c) The Regional Administrator shall follow the procedures for substantial program revisions described in § 233.16 in processing a Tribe's request to add additional geographic area(s) to its assumed 404 dredged or fill material permit program that would add reservation areas to the scope of its approved program. A Tribe making such a request shall provide an application meeting the requirements of § 233.61 that describes how the Tribe meets the eligibility criteria in § 233.60 for the new area.

(1) A map or legal description of the area over which the Indian Tribe asserts regulatory authority pursuant to section 518(e)(2) of the CWA and § 233.60(c);