Last year the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers introduced its new Regulatory Request System, or RRS, an online application portal that allows the public to submit permit-related information when requesting permission to dredge, fill or conduct activities in waters of the U.S.

In Minnesota and Wisconsin, RRS users can submit pre-application meeting requests, permit-related jurisdictional determination requests, and comments on public notices using easy-to-follow online submission forms. Applicants can also track the status of their requests with a user-friendly dashboard.

Catherine Beatty and Paul M. Leffler will be discussing when a permit is necessary from the Army Corps, how to use the Regulatory Request System to submit an application and recent program updates.

• Catherine Beatty is a Regulatory Project Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, bringing over 19 years of experience in environmental permitting, compliance, and project management. Catherine offers a unique 360-degree perspective, drawing on her experience as a permit applicant, private consultant, and Corps regulator. She has served as a regulator in four Corps districts and has contributed to national and regional initiatives, including the Mississippi Valley Division’s Technical Regional Execution Center. Catherine is recognized for her leadership in process improvement and interagency coordination. She holds an M.S. in Biological Sciences from Eastern Illinois University and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Stetson University.

• Paul Leffler is the Branch Chief for the St. Paul District Regulatory Division, overseeing regulatory operations across southern Minnesota. He brings over 20 years of environmental public service experience spanning 8 states and multiple impactful assignments at Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Paul has been instrumental in advancing national Regulatory initiatives with a track record of improving permit efficiency and customer service. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois.