Federal Permit Use Cases
Every project starts with the right permits.
PERMIT.GOV supports the most complex and high-demand federal permitting workflows — from BLM Plans of Operations to FERC Certificates to USACE Section 404 Permits. Select a use case to understand what approvals your project requires and how to get started.
Use Case
Critical Minerals Mining
Securing America's critical mineral supply chain starts with the right permits.
America's clean energy and defense technology industries depend on domestic critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements predominantly found on federal lands. Bringing a mine to production requires approvals from multiple agencies, and PERMIT.GOV coordinates every review in one secure workspace.
From the initial BLM Plan of Operations through NEPA environmental review, water quality certifications, and species consultations, the platform tracks each agency timeline, required submittals, and approval conditions so nothing falls through the cracks.
Required Permits
BLM Plan of Operations
43 CFR Part 3809 — required for all surface-disturbing activity on BLM-managed federal lands
NEPA Environmental Review
Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoped to project scale and significance
USACE Section 404 Permit
Clean Water Act authorization for operations impacting jurisdictional wetlands or waters of the United States
EPA NPDES Stormwater Permit
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit required for construction sites disturbing one or more acres
ESA Section 7 Consultation
Endangered Species Act review coordinated with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries
Key Forms
BLM Form 3809
SF-299 (if right-of-way required)
ENG Form 4345
EPA Form 3510-2F
Use Case
Oil & Gas Drilling
Every federal onshore well starts with an Application for Permit to Drill.
Federal onshore oil and gas development requires Bureau of Land Management authorization before drilling commences. The Application for Permit to Drill (APD) is the core document, but it triggers a cascade of associated reviews — surface use coordination, NEPA analysis, bonding requirements, and well inspections — all managed through PERMIT.GOV.
Whether you're developing a single exploratory well or managing a multi-pad development program, the platform creates a complete digital record of every filing, agency response, and condition of approval.
Required Permits
Application for Permit to Drill (APD)
BLM Form 3160-3 — primary federal authorization for onshore drilling on federal mineral estate
Surface Use Agreement
Required when mineral and surface rights are split; coordinates with private surface owner on access and reclamation
NEPA Categorical Exclusion, EA, or EIS
Environmental review scoped to project footprint, proximity to sensitive resources, and cumulative impact
Spill Prevention, Control & Countermeasure Plan
EPA SPCC Plan required for facilities with aboveground oil storage above regulatory threshold volumes
Surety Bond Filing
BLM bonding requirement covering reclamation obligations for all federal lease operations
Key Forms
BLM Form 3160-3 (APD)
BLM Form 3165-1 (Sundry Notices)
EPA SPCC Form
Use Case
Natural Gas Pipelines & LNG Facilities
Interstate pipelines and LNG terminals require multi-agency coordination from day one.
Interstate natural gas pipeline projects and LNG export terminals are among the most complex permitting undertakings in the federal system. FERC serves as lead agency and issues the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, but applicants must simultaneously obtain right-of-way grants, water body crossing authorizations, and air quality permits.
PERMIT.GOV manages these parallel tracks — filing queues, agency comment periods, mitigation commitments, and final authorizations — in a single authenticated workspace shared by the applicant and all reviewing agencies.
Required Permits
FERC Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
Natural Gas Act Section 7 — FERC's primary authorization for construction and operation of interstate pipeline infrastructure
SF-299 Right-of-Way Grant
Standard Form 299 for transportation and utility systems crossing BLM, USFS, or other federally managed lands
USACE Section 404 / Section 10 Permits
Army Corps authorization for pipeline crossings of waters of the United States and navigable waterways
EPA Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit
Pre-construction air quality permit required for compressor stations and LNG processing equipment above emission thresholds
DOT PHMSA Pipeline Safety Compliance
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration design, construction, and operational standards filing
Key Forms
SF-299
FERC Form 2
ENG Form 4345 (USACE)
EPA Form 9340-1
Use Case
Electricity Transmission Lines
Grid expansion is a national priority. PERMIT.GOV accelerates it.
High-voltage transmission lines are essential infrastructure for delivering clean and affordable power across America. Most new routes cross federal land, requiring right-of-way grants from BLM, USFS, or other land management agencies. Water crossings add USACE jurisdiction, and species and historic properties consultations further extend the timeline.
PERMIT.GOV's coordinated review workflow assigns clear agency timelines and tracks every submittal — so project developers and federal review staff always know exactly where each authorization stands.
Required Permits
SF Right-of-Way Grant (43 CFR Part 2800)
BLM or USFS authorization for transmission line corridors across federal lands; initiated through SF-299
NEPA Environmental Assessment or EIS
Environmental review covering route selection, viewshed impacts, land disturbance, and sensitive resource avoidance
USACE Section 404 / Section 10 Permit
Required for tower footings, access roads, or conductor stringing in or adjacent to waters of the United States
ESA Section 7 Consultation
Formal or informal consultation with USFWS and NMFS for listed species or critical habitat within the project area
Section 106 Historic Properties Consultation
National Historic Preservation Act review coordinated with State Historic Preservation Officers and tribal nations
Key Forms
SF-299
ENG Form 4345
USFWS Form 3-2178
Use Case
Water Resources
Water infrastructure projects require USACE authorization before construction begins.
Projects that alter, fill, or dredge navigable waters or adjacent wetlands — including dams, levees, flood control structures, water intakes, and irrigation infrastructure — must obtain U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization. Depending on scope, individual or nationwide permits may apply, and EPA Water Quality Certification is often required in parallel.
PERMIT.GOV manages the full authorization workflow: pre-application consultation, public notice periods, agency comment resolution, mitigation planning, and final permit issuance with ongoing conditions tracking.
Required Permits
USACE Section 404 Permit
Clean Water Act authorization for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters and wetlands of the United States
USACE Section 10 Permit
Rivers and Harbors Act authorization for structures, excavation, or fill in navigable waters of the United States
EPA Section 401 Water Quality Certification
State or EPA certification that the proposed project will comply with applicable water quality standards
NEPA Environmental Review
Environmental Assessment or EIS scoped to hydrological, ecological, and downstream community effects
Bureau of Reclamation Contract or Approval
Required for projects involving federal water service areas, Bureau of Reclamation facilities, or federal storage reservoirs
Key Forms
ENG Form 4345 (USACE Individual Permit)
EPA Form 7520-6 (401 Certification)
Use Case
Advanced Manufacturing
Building domestic industrial capacity requires navigating a multi-agency permitting landscape.
Large-scale manufacturing facilities — semiconductor fabs, battery gigafactories, steel mills, chemical plants — frequently trigger federal permitting requirements through new air emissions, wetland impacts from site grading, stormwater discharge, or when federal funding or land creates a NEPA nexus.
PERMIT.GOV coordinates environmental and construction clearances across EPA, USACE, and other federal reviewers, including pre-application coordination to identify the right permit pathways before a single form is filed.
Required Permits
NEPA Environmental Review
Required when a federal nexus exists — federal funding, federal land, or a federal permit that constitutes a major federal action
EPA New Source Review / PSD Air Permit
Prevention of Significant Deterioration pre-construction permit for major new stationary air emission sources
EPA Title V Operating Permit
Comprehensive operating permit required when regulated air pollutant emissions exceed applicable major source thresholds
USACE Section 404 Wetlands Permit
Required for site grading, drainage, or stormwater infrastructure that impacts jurisdictional wetlands
EPA NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit required for all construction sites disturbing one or more acres
Key Forms
EPA Form 9340-1 (Title V)
ENG Form 4345
EPA Form 3510-2A (NPDES)
EPA Form 9000-1 (RCRA)
Use Case
Rights-of-Way & Linear Infrastructure
Roads, fiber, water lines, and every linear project crossing federal land starts with an SF-299.
Pipelines, fiber optic cables, access roads, power lines, and other linear infrastructure projects frequently cross federal lands managed by BLM, USFS, NPS, and other agencies. Each land ownership segment requires a right-of-way grant. Water body crossings add USACE jurisdiction. Multi-agency projects can involve dozens of separate authorizations across hundreds of miles.
PERMIT.GOV creates a unified application record for all crossings — mapping each parcel, tracking each managing agency review, and centralizing all grantor conditions in one place so linear project developers can manage complex multi-state routes efficiently.
Required Permits
SF-299 Right-of-Way Application
Standard Form 299 — the federal government's standard application for transportation and utility systems on federal lands
BLM Right-of-Way Grant (Form 2800-1)
BLM-specific grantor form issued following SF-299 review for projects crossing BLM-managed public lands
NEPA Categorical Exclusion or Environmental Assessment
Environmental review scoped to linear construction footprint, temporary access roads, and vegetation disturbance
USACE Section 404 Permit
Required for water body crossings involving discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States
ESA Informal Section 7 Consultation
Endangered Species Act review for linear routes traversing potential species habitat or designated critical habitat
Key Forms
SF-299
BLM Form 2800-1
ENG Form 4345