Approved JD is used to indicate that the Corps has identified the presence or absence of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources on a site, including their accurate location(s) and boundaries, as well as their jurisdictional status. Approved JDs are valid for 5 years.
Preliminary JD includes the delineated limits of all aquatic resources on a parcel(s) and is advisory in nature. All aquatic resources determined to occur in the review area are treated as jurisdictional. Unlike an Approved JD, a Preliminary JD does not represent a definitive, official determination that there are, or that there are not, jurisdictional aquatic resources on a site, and does not have an expiration date.
Delineation Concurrence is a written notification from the Corps concurring, not concurring, or commenting on the aquatic resource (i.e. wetland, stream, creek, river, pond, etc.) boundaries delineated on a property. This allows the applicant to design a project to avoid these areas or utilize the Delineation Concurrence to apply for a permit. A Delineation Concurrence does not address if the Corps does or does not have jurisdiction over these resources.
Delineations must be prepared in accordance with the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and the appropriate regional supplement. There are many private-sector environmental consultants that operate within the geographic area of the Tulsa District Regulatory Program, link to consultant list. The services provided by these private sector consultants are often sufficient to identify the presence/absence, location and extent of potential waters of the United States. Their products can be useful in the planning and design phase of project development. The Tulsa District strongly encourages project proponents to leverage these services in response to independent requirements of state and local governments, financiers and in the early configuration and site considerations for proposed facilities that may eventually require a DA permit.
Note: A Preliminary JD or Delineation Concurrence is typically sufficient for project planning and for submitting a DA permit application later. Pre-approved wetland delineations and/or JDs are not a pre-requisite for submitting a DA permit application. An Approved JD can be requested during the permit process if it becomes necessary.