National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan:

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National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan

• FHWA National Environmental Conference
• June 28-30, 2004

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Background Information

• Released December 26, 2002
• Improve effectiveness of compensatory mitigation
• watershed approach
• accountability
• performance standards
• data collection and availability

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TEA-21 Banking Preference

• Apply TEA-21 preference
• Factors for Consideration
• Suitability of banking
• Multiple alternatives
• Early Coordination
• Streamlining, NEPA-404, MBRT process

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Corps District Mitigation Guidelines

• Mitigation and Monitoring Guidelines
• - Public Notices December 2003
• Finalize by June 2004
• Examples for Districts to use as models
• Incorporate
• - Model Mitigation Plan Checklist 2003
• Adaptation of NAS Guidelines to CWA Section 404
  Program 2003

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Site/Kind Guidance

• Context
• Existing preference
• (1990 Mitigation MOA)
• NAS study finding
• Watershed approach not yet widely available
• Purpose
• Guide mitigation decisions until watershed
  approach can be widely applied

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Site/Kind Guidance

• Environmentally preferable mitigation
• Off-site and out-of-kind
• Examples
• Deference to watershed plan
• Combined mitigation

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Stream Mitigation

• Mitigation for impacts to streams
• Compendium of technical approaches
• Stream mitigation protocols
• 50 techniques from across the country
• Being evaluated/sorted
• Resource manual with selection key

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Performance Standards

• Measuring success
• Technical report
• Compile peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Analyze and sort best available science
• Improve precision/clarity of permit conditions
• Indicate areas where research is necessary
• Performance standards and monitoring guidance in
  2005

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Database/Tracking

• Existing 404 tracking databases
• RAMS and ORM
• 404 tracking with ORM
• Types/amount of resources impacted/mitigated
• Types/amount of mitigation performed
• Corps/EPA
• Add GIS to ORM
• Ensure accessibility of data

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Stakeholder Coordination

• 2003 Stakeholder Forum
• Portland, OR
• Full Report www.eli.org
• 2004 Stakeholder Forum
• Tampa, FL September 20-22

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2004 and 2005 Actions

• 2004
• Buffer guidance
• Preservation guidance
• Guidance for aquatic resources that are difficult
  to replace (DTR)
• 2005
• Performance standards guidance
• Shared database
• National report card
• Mitigation in the Watershed Context

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Watershed Approach to Mitigation

• Identified 20 watershed-based planning
  tools/resources
• Symposium May 19-21, 2004
• Watershed-based tools/resources
• Criteria used to analyze priorities and
  restoration options
• Use in regulatory context
• Share ideas, Recommend direction

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Questions?
Questions?