Important: Prior to performing any work in a waterway or wetland, contact the appropriate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) district to determine if a federal permit is required. If there is no federal permit, there is no Water Quality Certification.

Any federal license or permit for an activity that may result in a discharge requires a Clean Water Act Section 401 [33 U.S.C. 1341] Water Quality Certification from the state certifying authority, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (the department). This ensures that federally authorized projects will comply with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act [33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] and Missouri Clean Water Law [Chapter 644, RSMo]. The certifying authority has four action options upon request for Water Quality Certification: grant, grant with conditions, waive, or deny. No federal license or permit may be granted until certification has been obtained or waived, and no federal license or permit may be granted if WQC is denied. Virtually all Missouri Water Quality Certifications are granted with conditions.

Most Water Quality Certifications are for activities covered under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Clean Water Act Section 404 permits authorizing the placement of dredge or fill material into jurisdictional waters, also known as waters of the U.S. Waters of the U.S. are rivers, streams (wet and dry), lakes, and wetlands; and jurisdictional determinations are made by the USACE. Common activities include stream bank stabilization, installation or replacement of culverts and low water crossings, fill impacts related to residential and commercial developments, and infrastructure maintenance. To learn more about the 404 permits visit the USACE’s Regulatory Program and Permits website. 

The USACE authorizes projects with Individual Permits, Nationwide Permits and General Permits. Nationwide and General permits authorize activities that will result in minimal environmental impacts. Individual Permits authorize projects that result in more than minimal environmental impacts, and each Individual Permit requires an individual Water Quality Certification from the department. Most projects are authorized under Nationwide Permits and qualify for the programmatic Water Quality Certification (pre-certified). Programmatic Water Quality Certifications contain a pre-established set of conditions that are applied to applicable Nationwide Permits and are provided by the USACE upon issuance of a permit. If the project will not comply with one or more of the conditions of the programmatic Water Quality Certification, an individual Water Quality Certification is required. Each General Permit has a specific set of pre-established conditions. Refer to those General Permits for those conditions. If the project will not comply with one or more of the conditions for the specific General Permits, an individual Water Quality Certification is required. Individual Water Quality Certification for Nationwide Permits and General Permits is most commonly required for projects that occur on particular impaired streams. Federal Nationwide Permits, general conditions and definitions are available on the USACE website.

Other federal actions that may require Water Quality Certification include U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) permits, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses, and federally issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, but these permits and licenses are much less common.

Public Notices

The applicants listed below have applied for a Section 401 WQC. According to the Missouri Clean Water Law, located in Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 644, RSMo, and the federal Clean Water Act, proposed certifications are tentative pending public comment. Comments should be confined to the issues relating specifically to the proposed action and its effect on water quality. The department cannot consider comments or objections to a proposed certification based on issues outside the Clean Water Commission's authority (Curdt v. Mo. Clean Water Commission, 586 S.W.2d 58 Mo. App. 1979).

All comment deadlines and instructions regarding how to submit comments are stated within each public notice below. If the department receives a large number of public comments, a public meeting or public hearing may be scheduled about that proposed certification, in order for the public to ask questions, discuss issues and submit additional comments. All comments are treated with equal consideration, regardless of how they are submitted. At the end of the public comment period, the department will review and consider all comments before making a final decision regarding the proposed certification.

There are no currently active Section 401 Water Quality Certification Public Notices/ Public Comments.

How to Apply

NOTE: Obtaining a Water Quality Certification or USCG permits, FERC licenses, and federally issued NPDES permits will follow a different process. For details contact the department’s general email account

All USACE Projects Start Here:

  1. If you are considering a project that may involve placing fill material in a lake, river, stream, dry streambed, or wetland, you should contact the USACE to determine if the project you are planning is within federally jurisdictional waters and is a regulated activity that requires a federal permit. If no federal permit is required, no state Water Quality Certification is required. Refer to the USACE District map, which includes contact numbers and email addresses, to help you decide which office to contact.
  2. If the project involves a federally regulated activity and permit within federally jurisdictional waters, there are two types of Water Quality Certification.
    • Programmatic Water Quality Certification (precertified): If the USACE issues a Nationwide or General permits and the proposed project complies with required Missouri Water Quality Certification general or specific conditions, the USACE will issue the permit with a programmatic Water Quality Certification, and the project is considered precertified. Review by the department for individual Water Quality Certification is not required.
    • Individual Water Quality Certification: All USACE Individual Permits require an individual Water Quality Certification. If the USACE issues a Nationwide or General permits that does not comply with one or more Missouri Water Quality Certification general or specific conditions, an individual Water Quality Certification is required. 
  3. If the activity is pre-certified, the USACE will notify the applicant and provide the appropriate programmatic Water Quality Certification. At this point the project is certified and work may begin. No further actions are required.
  4. If an individual Water Quality Certification is required, follow the specific steps below for Nationwide or General Permits or an Individual Permits.

Applications

Those seeking a permit must begin the permitting process through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' appropriate district office before they may apply for a 401 certification through the department. Please see the USACE District map linked above for contact information.

Fact Sheets

Fees

  • $150 for a 401 Certification project that requires a Finding of No Significant Impact but does not require an Environmental Impact Statement.
  • $1,500 for a 401 Certification project that does require an Environmental Impact Statement.

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