The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) invites the public and environmental professionals to use the Regulatory Request System (RRS)—a modern, web-based platform launched in January 2024 to simplify and expedite the permitting process. RRS offers a more transparent, consistent, efficient, and user-friendly experience for submitting permit requests and interacting with Regulatory offices.
In the summer of 2025, the South Atlantic Regulatory Division will fully transition to using the RRS as the exclusive method for electronically submitting requests. This shift aims to increase the volume of submissions through the RRS and to facilitate the swift implementation of a Presidential Executive Order that mandates the move to an electronic-based application process. For more details, see the Executive Order.
Ward Marotti - Moderator
Director: Land and Water Resources
Spangler Environmental, Inc.
For more than 30 years, Ward Marotti has completed hundreds of public and private environmental compliance and permitting projects, including CWA 404/401 Individual and Nationwide permits, NEPA and SEPA EAs and EISs, water quality variances, Endangered Species Act Section 7 and 10 impact permits and conservation plans, protected species relocation plans, and watershed use re-classifications. Ward is the Past President of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) North Carolina Chapter. He served on the recently affiliated South Carolina Chapter’s inaugural board. In January 2023 Ward was elected as an at-large member of NAEP’s national Board of Directors and currently serves on its Education and Conference Committees and chairs its Chapters Committee.
David "Dave" Shaeffer - Speaker
Geospatial Applications Developer, Cartographer, Geomorphologist, Wetland Biologist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
I am a Physical Geographer with nearly 19 years of experience with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the fields of geospatial analysis, technology development and management, and federal waterway regulation. I hold a Master's degree in Physical Geography from East Carolina University, where I specialized in using Geographic Information System (GIS) and machine learning with remote sensing datasets, including LiDAR, to improve wetland mapping. I spent nearly 15 years as a field biologist implementing Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act across North Carolina, Alaska, and Washington State. Throughout my career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I have led numerous regional and national geospatial and technology initiatives, focusing on enhancing regulatory processes and decision making through process innovation and technology. I currently manage a portfolio of national and regional Regulatory projects that range from geospatial application development, website development, and Regulatory business process standardization and modernization.
I find great fulfillment in training and guiding junior staff in the use of GIS, technology, and Regulatory project manager. Since 2011, I’ve served as a GIS instructor for the USACE, both domestically for the Regulatory Program and internationally for Emergency Management. I have also contributed to the USACE GIS Cadre and deployed to several national disasters to support the USACE ESF3 mission with cartographic support. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy mentoring middle school students through the FIRST Robotics Tech Challenge, spending quality time with my wife and two sons, and gardening.
Read Dave's full bio and work history here.
