Corps of Engineers closing NE regulatory office

CONCORD, Mass. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's temporarily closing its New England regulatory office because of a lack of funds while the federal government is shut down.

The New England district office serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It regulates work, structures and dredging in or near navigable waters and related wetlands.

The office says someone will be available for authorizations of emergency activity.

But it won't be able to evaluate individual permit applications, pre-construction notifications for regional general permit authorizations, or requests for jurisdictional determinations until the office is able to reopen.

The partial government shutdown is in its third week as Congress struggles to reach a budget agreement. The shutdown has suspended several regulatory services provided by federal agencies, while others deemed essential to public safety are continuing.

Cox Media Group