From: "Carmen T. Santasania" <71634.41@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Policy
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Date: 7/31/98 8:45 AM
RE: Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Policy
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Subject: Compensatory Wetlands Mitigation Policy
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July 31, 1998 Ken Burton 202-208-5634
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED
COMPENSATORY WETLANDS MITIGATION POLICY ON
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today proposed
national guidelines on the use of the National Wildlife Refuge
System for compensatory wetlands mitigation requirements
associated with Federally permitted wetland development
activities. These guidelines are now open for public comment. =
The proposed policy would provide guidance to Service personnel
when evaluating whether a refuge should be considered for wetland
restoration, enhancement, or creation to replace wetlands lost to
dredge-and-fill activities authorized under Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. =
"The American people must do everything possible to conserve our
valuable wetlands. As proposed, the policy would not allow use
of National Wildlife Refuge System lands as mitigation sites in
most circumstances," said Jamie Rappaport Clark, director of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The proposed policy would not allow mitigation banks to be
established within the National Wildlife Refuge System. However,
it would allow completed and fully functional mitigation banks to
be donated to the National Wildlife Refuge System when in the
interest of the Service.
The proposed policy also provides guidance on mitigation required
as a result of water resource activities that occur on a
national wildlife refuge. The placement of a transmission line
on refuge lands along an existing right-of-way is one example of
development activities that could take place on a refuge and may
require compensatory mitigation. Such activities would also
require a special use permit to ensure that the development
activity and the mitigation are consistent with the purposes for
which the refuge was established. =
The proposed policy clarifies the Service's position regarding
use of compensatory mitigation on lands already protected or
restored under Federal conservation programs designed to increase
the Nation's wetlands base. It establishes that the Service
would not support use of these lands as compensatory mitigation
for wetland losses due to water resource development activities. =
These lands include agricultural lands under conservation
easement, those acquired under fee title transfers, and those
subject to other Federal habitat management plans.
"The Service recognizes there are instances in which compensatory
mitigation on national wildlife refuge lands could be beneficial
and should be considered. But these are limited and exceptional
circumstances that must be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case
basis," Director Clark said. The Service proposes to apply
specific criteria that examine the consistency of the mitigation
project with the purposes of the refuge and the benefits of other
mitigation options. Each refuge mitigation proposal will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Service personnel who would
consider the unique habitat composition in each refuge, the
benefits of restoration for each mitigation site, and the
suitability of other mitigation alternatives. However, in
general, compensatory mitigation would not occur on National
Wildlife Refuge System lands when other mitigation options are
suitable or available.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service welcomes comments and
information on the proposed policy on the National Wildlife
Refuge System and Compensatory Mitigation under Section 10/404. =
All comments must be received by August 29, 1998, at the
following address: Chief, Division of Habitat Conservation, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C St., NW, mailstop 400 Arlington
Square, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted by
fax to 703-358-1869. All comments and materials received will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal
business hours at the above address. To schedule an appointment,
call 703-358-2161. =
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal
agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish
and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre
National Wildlife Refuge System comprising more than 500 national
wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special
management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries
and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces
Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act,
manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their
conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program
that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
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