Section 408

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US Army Corps of Engineers

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USACE Omaha District Section 408 Program

About the Section 408 Program

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District's Section 408 program allows another party, such as a local government, company, or individual, to alter a USACE Civil Works project in our area of operations. Reasons for alterations could include improvements to the projects, relocation of part of the project, or installing utilities or other non-project features.

If you are planning a project or action that may involve a federally authorized project, such as a dam, levee, pier, waterway or shoreline, this is where you will begin.

We are here to help you obtain your permit.

Preapplication Meeting - Things to know!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How long will the review process take?

Some minor alterations that have a low risk of impacting the federal project typically require 60 days to process. Alterations with a higher risk require a more thorough review. These may require 90+ days to process. Please contact the Section 408 Coordinator to determine what level of review may be required for your alteration.

What is a Section 408 review?

A Section 408 review includes an engineering, environmental, real estate, and legal review to ensure a proposed alteration does not impair the usefulness of the federal project and is not injurious to the public interest. Processing of a Section 408 permission request begins with submitting a written request to USACE. Find out what an application package includes, and about permission options here.

Do I have to pay for the Section 408 review?

No. The review of proposed alterations under Section 408 is funded through the USACE Civil Works appropriation. There are authorities available that allow outside entities to contribute funds and, in some cases, expedite Section 408 review. Speak with District Section 408 staff to determine if one of these authorities may fit your specific situation.

What does Section 408 mean to my proposed project?

USACE Civil Works projects include flood risk management, navigation, recreation, and infrastructure and environmental stewardship. Many of these projects support life safety. It is important that the intended functions of these projects are not at risk by a proposed alteration. Section 408 is intended to ensure proposed alterations to federal projects do not compromise the original purpose of the project or increase life safety risks.

How to prepare and process your application:

In the Section 408 Process Guide, prepared by USACE HQ, you will find information and assistance to prepare and process 408 requests.

This guide provides a road map for:

Options to seek 408 permission
Preparing and submitting a 408 application
What to do after permission has been granted
Additional funding options for applicable projects

If you are looking for information about how to navigate the Section 408 program, the "Navigating the Section 408 Program" section was designed with this feedback in mind.

These materials are a great place to start—and for even more information, please see the section below, “Who can I talk with about a Section 408 request?” to get connected with a Section 408 coordinator.