We have been discussing permit review timeframes for the NWPs and RGPs and trying to answer the question of “when will I get my permit or when will I receive concurrence that we qualify for a NWP or RGP?”. According to 33CFR325.2 the Corps has permit timeframes that should be followed but in my experience those are no where close to actual permit timeframes. Does anyone have any advice or experience to offer regarding permit review time frames for NWPs and RGPs?

In my experience it depends on how heavy a workload your regional corps office is under, whether or not your documentation is correct and complete, if the site is a potential problem area or if there are public concerns then permitting will take longer. A minimum time frame would be around 2-3 weeks.

Christine,
You have to remember that you are dealing with a federal regulatory agency. As with all federal regulatory agencies, they spend a lot of time measuring and counting time so they are very good at it. You should also take a moment to remember that the Corps can: turn a desert wash into a navigable waterway; turn a water resource program into a federal land use program; turn structures into fill; turn excavation into fill; and turn land into water. Clearly, an agency that can accomplish all of that, can easily make time stand still. And further, it's their clock!!!!!

Just don't complain to the Corps until after you have received your necessary paperwork. Then you can sit back relax and enjoy another anomalous timing event; the last 2 minutes of an NFL football game.