A major regulatory burden has been lifted for Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, clearing the way for long-awaited dredging projects that will make it easier for people to use area waterways commercially to support working waterfronts, as well as recreationally.

The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission announced that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District has granted categorical permission to expedite and streamline the review and final decisions on a series of shallow-draft dredging requests involving Federal Navigation Projects.

The projects are located in 17 creeks and rivers in and around Essex, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, King William and King and Queen counties, a MPPDC release stated.

The authority to grant permission for temporary or permanent use, occupation, or alteration of any Army Corps civil works project is contained in Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as amended, codified at 33 U.S.C. 408 (Section 408). Alterations are granted un...