Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act

Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2001-11-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0309133025

Recognizing the importance of wetland protection, the Bush administration in 1988 endorsed the goal of "no net loss" of wetlands. Specifically, it directed that filling of wetlands should be avoided, and minimized when it cannot be avoided. When filling is permitted, compensatory mitigation must be undertaken; that is, wetlands must be restored, created, enhanced, and, in exceptional cases, preserved, to replace the permitted loss of wetland area and function, such as water quality improvement within the watershed. After more than a dozen years, the national commitment to "no net loss" of wetlands has been evaluated. This new book explores the adequacy of science and technology for replacing wetland function and the effectiveness of the federal program of compensatory mitigation in accomplishing the nation's goal of clean water. It examines the regulatory framework for permitting wetland filling and requiring mitigation, compares the mitigation institutions that are in use, and addresses the problems that agencies face in ensuring sustainability of mitigated wetlands over the long term. Gleaning lessons from the mixed results of mitigation efforts to date, the book offers 10 practical guidelines for establishing and monitoring mitigated wetlands. It also recommends that federal, state, and local agencies undertake specific institutional reforms. This book will be important to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the "no net loss" issue: policy makers, regulators, environmental scientists, educators, and wetland advocates.

Guidelines for Selecting Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Options

Guidelines for Selecting Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Options
Author: Anne D. Marble
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 56
Release: 2002
Genre: Wetland management
ISBN: 0309067731

Background -- Research methodology -- Phase I results -- Discussion -- Phase II results -- Wetland banking agreements -- Case studies: eight state DOT wetland mitigation programs -- Conclusions and recommendations -- Glossary -- References.

Application of Clean Water (CWA) Section 404 Compensatory Wetland Mitigation Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Application of Clean Water (CWA) Section 404 Compensatory Wetland Mitigation Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 9
Release: 1994
Genre:
ISBN:

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), activities resulting in the discharge of dredge or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands, require permit authorization from the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). As part of the Section 404 permitting process, compensatory wetland mitigation in the form of wetland enhancement, restoration, or construction may be required to off-set impacts sustained under a Section 404 permit. Under normal circumstances, compensatory mitigation is a relatively straight forward process; however, issues associated with mitigation become more complex at sites undergoing remediation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), because on-site response/remedial actions involving dredged and fill material are not subject to the formal Section 404 permitting process. These actions are conducted in accordance with the substantive permitting requirements of the ACOE's Nationwide and individual permitting programs. Wetland mitigatory requirements are determined through application of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) 040(b) (1) Guidelines promulgated in 40 CFR Part 230 and are implemented through compliance with substantive permitting requirements during the conduct of response/remedial actions. A programmatic approach for implementing wetland mitigatory requirements is being developed at a former US Department of Energy (DOE) uranium refinery undergoing CERCLA remediation in southwestern Ohio. The approach is designed to define the regulatory mechanism that will be used to integrate CWA driven wetland mitigatory requirements into the CERCLA process.

Wetland Mitigation Banking

Wetland Mitigation Banking
Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works
Publisher:
Total Pages: 248
Release: 1996
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Wetlands

Wetlands
Author: Committee on Characterization of Wetlands
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 329
Release: 1995-09-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309587220

"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management. This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action. Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels. This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.

National Wetland Mitigation Banking Study

National Wetland Mitigation Banking Study
Author: Robert Brumbaugh
Publisher:
Total Pages: 100
Release: 1994
Genre: Wetland conservation
ISBN:

"Describes the accomplishments during phase one of the two phase National Wetland Mitigation Banking Study authorized by Section 307(d) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990"--P. 1.