Effective September 1, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) became the clearinghouse and central point of receipt for all requests in the Commonwealth of Virginia (instead of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission) for submission of the Commonwealth’s Joint Permit Application (JPA) or submission of their new national online application portal and management platform called the Regulatory Request System (RRS). RRS allows users to apply for individual and general permits from the Corps, DEQ, VMRC and the local wetland boards using online forms in lieu of the JPA. The system is designed to decrease permit processing time and is the Corps’ preferred permit application process over the historical use of the JPA.
You may apply online to RRS at the following link:
https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs
There is no link to the JPA in RRS. The RRS application process REPLACES the need for the JPA. You must login to RRS in order to submit a request.
Alternatively, you may submit a JPA once completed as a pdf to :
CENAO.REG_ROD [at] usace.army.mil (CENAO[dot]REG_ROD[at]usace[dot]army[dot]mil)
The Corps will discontinue the JPA eventually, and you will be required to utilize RRS solely.
Any revisions or correspondence for existing or future applications should be emailed to the address below:
CENAO.REG_ROD [at] usace.army.mil (CENAO[dot]REG_ROD[at]usace[dot]army[dot]mil)
At this time, the RRS portal does not accept revisions or correspondence. Please include in your email the Corps’ NAO processing number and the VMRC number if known.
If you have questions regarding the shift to RRS please contact the Regulator of the Day (ROD) at
CENAO.REG_ROD [at] usace.army.mil (CENAO[dot]REG_ROD[at]usace[dot]army[dot]mil)
Important Wetlands Announcement
The Essex County Board of Supervisors has officially adopted Ordinance #25-04, repealing the Wetlands Ordinance, and Ordinance #25-05, repealing the Coastal Sand Dune Ordinance. These actions were taken pursuant to the authority granted under the Code of Virginia, specifically Title 28.2, Chapter 13, which governs local wetlands zoning. Under § 28.2-1302, localities are authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal such ordinances as appropriate. This decision reflects the Board’s commitment to aligning local regulations with updated state and federal guidelines and to streamlining environmental oversight for greater regulatory consistency. Posted: May 15, 2025
Respectfully,
April L. Rounds
Administrator
Essex County, Virginia
est. 1692