When applying for a Coastal Zone Consistency (CZC) Certification, the CZC Section will need to know whether there are regulated aquatic resources such as federally jurisdictional wetlands, federally non jurisdictional (isolated/excluded) wetlands, other waters, or direct critical area on the site, delineated and/or identified, and if there are impacts.
Federally Jurisdictional Freshwater Wetlands/Waters
Federally Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) are under the authority of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). For questions on jurisdictional wetlands or other waters visit the USACE website. Federal permits for wetland impacts may require CZC Federal Review before the CZC State Review can be completed.
Critical Area (Tidelands, Coastal Waters)
Critical Area impacts are not authorized by the Bureau of Coastal Management’s Coastal Zone Consistency section and will need to be coordinated with the Bureau of Coastal Management’s Critical Area Permitting section.
Federally Non-Jurisdictional (Isolated/Excluded) Freshwater Wetlands
Federally Non-Jurisdictional Wetlands are Waters of the State (WOS) and under the indirect certification authority of the Bureau of Coastal Management's Coastal Zone Consistency section. State permits in the eight coastal counties that require CZC certification are subject to the CZMP wetland policies.
Helpful Hints
For projects with no aquatic resource impacts, please include any USACE verified delineations (DC, PJD, AJD) that have been certified by the USACE within the last five (5) years. Similarly, please include the active, certified Critical Area Line (CAL) that have been certified by BCM within the last five (5) years. Lastly, please ensure you include all historic (BCM formerly OCRM) Wetland Master Plans, Restrictive Covenants, etc., for preserved wetlands and buffers.
For projects with Aquatic Resource impacts, documentation will vary. Pre-application meetings are encouraged for projects with wetland impacts.
For new federal jurisdictional wetland impacts, please reach out to the USACE for Individual Permits (IP) and Nationwide Permits (NWP) questions. The CZC section will need to be involved in the IP review with other state certification agencies. The CZC section will need the issued provisional/conditional NWP to begin that may require CZC Federal Review. For new federal permits requiring new certification, please submit a "BCM Federal Coastal Zone Consistency Certification Request."
- 2021 Nationwide Permits, Water Quality Certifications, Coastal Zone Consistency Determinations and Direct Critical Area Permits Table and Guide
- DES (formerly DHEC) NWP 2022 certification document for Some Denials
For new federally non-jurisdictional wetland impacts which fit wetland master planning, (i.e., wetland size under 1 acre, not extending offsite), required documents will include a mitigation plan and a state threatened or endangered species statement or survey.
For new federally non-jurisdictional wetland impacts, which DO NOT fit wetland master planning (i.e., wetland size over 1 acre), required documents will include a mitigation plan, a state threatened or endangered species statement or survey, and an alternatives analysis to include feasibility of offsite and onsite alternatives.