General permits are issued on a nationwide or regional basis for a category of activities that are substantially similar in nature and cause only minimal individual and cumulative impacts. General permits reduce the burden on the public and ensure timely issuance of permits, while effectively administering the laws and regulations which establish and govern the program.
General permits are reviewed every five years. An assessment of the cumulative impacts of work authorized under the permit is performed at that time to determine if it is in the public interest to do so. In most instances, anyone complying with the conditions of the general permit can receive project specific authorization. Anyone not complying with the conditions of a general permit may still receive authorization via a "standard permit", but the application must be individually evaluated and coordinated with third parties, including the federal and state resource agencies. Review of an application for a "standard permit" takes additional time to complete as conflict resolution may be required.
Current Mobile District General Permits: