Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 established a requirement for approval of any modifications to a United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works project. The USACE Section 408 program allows the local government (the sponsor) to alter the civil works project after verifying that the changes to the civil works project will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the structural integrity of the USACE Civil works project. This requirement is codified at 33 U.S.C. 408 – the section of the U.S. Code hence the name, Section 408 program.

In Galveston County, this applies to work on or near the following USACE Civil Works Projects in which Galveston County is the sponsor for these projects and is held responsible to manage and maintain the project and any alterations:

• Texas City Hurricane Levee.pdf
• Galveston County Seawall.pdf
• Highland Bayou Diversion Channel.pdf

Any and all modifications or alterations on any of the above projects, the applicant must get a Galveston County Permit that is executed in Galveston County Commissioner’s Court. Galveston County will coordinate with the USACE on the applicant’s behalf to get approval from the USACE prior to providing the permit. The USACE will require an application and will have a review fee based on the magnitude of the project. Galveston County does not have a fee to the applicant but does require a bond and insurance for the duration of construction.

Apply for a 408 Permit

Construction Oversite Details

Contact:

Nancy Baher, P.E.

Assistant County Engineer

(409) 770-5556                                                                                                  

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