Road Ecology Center

The Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA) is a permit application form that consolidates seven permit applications for federal, state and local permits. JARPA is designed to simplify the permit process for applicants proposing construction, fill placement, public access impingement, and other development activities in or near aquatic environments and wetlands by allowing them to complete only one form to be submitted to the necessary permitting agencies. Currently JARPA is being used by the Washington State Departments of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources, Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard and by more than 90 local governments for the following permits: • Section 404 permit of the Clean Water Act -- U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) • Sections 9 & 10 permit of the Rivers and Harbors Act -- U.S. Coast Guard, Corps • Hydraulic Project Approvals (HPA) -- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) • 401 Water Quality Certifications -- Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) • Water Quality Modifications -- Ecology • Shoreline Management Act (SMA) permits -- Local Government • Growth Management Act (GMA) critical area ordinance requirements -- Local Governments • Flood damage reduction ordinance requirements -- Local Governments • Aquatic Resource Use Authorization -- Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) JARPA has been used in Washington since 1995. We have experienced the benefits of a joint permit form to be: • Reduced paperwork and processing time -- multiple applications combined into single form results in reduced cost, frustration, confusion and time delays for project applicants; • Improved information received by agencies and local government staff -- everyone reviews the same project description, site plans, maps, etc., with more detail at the outset; • Reduction in time for receipt of permits -- because only one form serves as the application for all of the required permits, there is a greater likelihood that the application will be sent simultaneously to the appropriate agencies. Improved information provided early in the process has reduced the need for agencies to request additional information; • Reduced violations -- JARPA’s cover sheet is designed to inform applicants on which permits they need, resulting in fewer violations; • Reduced revisions and increased coordination between agencies -- all permitting agencies will receive consistent information at the same time, encouraging early coordination on projects. This should reduce the need for permit revisions that are currently required when one permitting agency requires project design changes after another agency has approved a permit based on original design plans.