The Department of the Army Regulatory Program is one of the oldest in the federal government. Initially it served a fairly simple, straightforward purpose: to protect and maintain the navigable capacity of the nation's waters. Time, changing public needs, evolving policy, case law, and new statutory mandates have changed the complexion of the program, adding to its breadth, complexity, and authority.

The Regulatory Program is committed to protecting the nation's aquatic resources and navigation capacity, while allowing reasonable development through fair and balanced decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities that occur in the Nation's waters, including wetlands.

The Regulatory Program administers and enforces Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899; Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended; and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. Under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, a Corps permit is required for work or structures in, over, or under navigable waters of the United States. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, a Corps permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Many waterbodies and wetlands in the nation are waters of the United States and are subject to the Corps' Section 404 regulatory authority. Under Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, the Corps regulates the transport and disposal of dredged material at designated ocean sites.

All Corps permit decisions are subject to various other federal laws applicable to federal actions, such as the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act

Click map to enlarge

For questions about the Regulatory Program, please email us at Cesac-rd-mail@usace.army.mil or call one of our Regulatory Offices at the numbers listed below.

Charleston District is now accepting electronic applications for Standard Permits, Letter of Permissions, Pre-Construction Notifications for NWPs or RGPs, Jurisdictional Determination requests, No Permit Required requests, Mitigation Bank proposals, and Pre-application meeting requests.  Electronic submittals may be sent directly to a specific Regulatory Office at the email addresses listed below.

Charleston District Office
69-A Hagood Avenue
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (866)329-8187 (Toll Free)
Phone:(843) 329-8044 (Local)
Fax: (843)329-2332

Email electronic submittals to:

SAC.RD.Charleston@usace.army.mil

Columbia Regulatory Field Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Bldg
1835 Assembly Street, Rm. 865 B-1
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 253-3444
Fax: (803) 253-3446

Email electronic submittals to:

SAC.RD.Columbia@usace.army.mil

Conway Regulatory Field Office
Conway Agricultural Center
1949 Industrial Park Road, Room 140
Conway, SC 29526
Phone: (843) 365-4239
Fax: (843) 365-4318

Email electronic submittals to:

SAC.RD.Conway@usace.army.mil

Greenville Regulatory Field Office
150 Executive Center Drive, Suite 205
 Mailbox 83 
Greenville, SC 29615
 Phone: (864) 609-4326

Email electronic submittals to:

SAC.RD.Greenville@usace.army.mil

Please visit our interactive modules to learn more about wetlands, streams, and the Regulatory Program.