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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issues nationwide permits to authorize specific categories of activities in jurisdictional waters and wetlands that have no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. Since the submission and review of such nationwide permits can take significantly less time than individual permits, any changes to the program that increase the conditions under which the nationwide permits can be used could result in significant cost savings for the public. The issuance and reissuance of nationwide permits must be done every five years to continue the Nationwide Permit Program. The nationwide permits were last issued on December 21, 2016, and expire on March 18, 2022. On October 25, 2017, the Corps issued a report to meet the requirements of Executive Order 13783, Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth. In that report, the Corps recommended changes to nine nationwide permits that authorize activities related to domestic energy production and use, including oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy sources, as well as renewable energy sources such as flowing water, wind, and solar energy. This rulemaking action would seek to review and, if appropriate, modify those nine nationwide permits in accordance with the opportunities identified in the report in order to reduce burden on the public.  In addition, the Corps is considering modifying several additional nationwide permits to provide consistency with the proposed modifications of the nine nationwide permits identified under Executive Order 13783. This rulemaking action would help simplify the nationwide permit authorization process.