Ch. 1— Summary • 9 



Table 2.— Major Federal Programs Affecting the Use of Wetlands 



Program or act 



Primary implementing agency 



Effect of program 



/. Discouraging or Preventing 

 Wetlands Conversions 



A. Regulation: 



Section 404 of the 

 Clean Water Act (1972) ... 



U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

 Department of Defense 



B. Acquisition: 



Migratory Bird Hunting and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), 



Conservation Stamps (1934) Department of the Interior (DOI) 



Federal Aid to Wildlife 



Restoration Act (1937) FWS 



Wetlands Loan Act (1961) FWS 



Land and Water 

 Conservation Fund (1955) FWS, National Park Service (DOI) 



Water Bank Program (1970) Agriculture Stabilization 



and Conservation Service, 

 Department of Agriculture (USDA) 



U.S. Tax Code Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 



C. Other general policies or programs: 



Executive Order 11990, 

 Protection of Wetlands (1977) All Federal agencies 



Coastal Zone Management 



Act (1972) National Oceanic and 



Atmospheric Administration, 

 Department of Commerce 



//. Encouraging Wetlands Conversion 



U.S. Tax Code IRS 



Payment-in-Kind (PIK) Program USDA 



Regulates many activities that involve 

 disposal of dredged or fill material 

 in waters of the United States, includ- 

 ing many w/etlands 



Acquires or purchases easements on 

 wetlands from revenue from fees paid 

 by hunters for duck stamps 



Provides grants to States for acquisi- 

 tion, restoration, and maintenance of 

 wildlife areas 



Provides interest-free Federal loans for 

 wetland acquisitions and easements 



Acquires wildlife areas 



Leases wetlands and adjacent upland 

 habitat from farmers for waterfowl 

 habitat over 10-year period 



Provides deductions for donors of 

 wetlands and to some not-ior-profit 

 organizations 



Minimizes impacts on wetlands from 

 Federal activities 



Provides Federal funding for wetland 

 programs in most coastal States 



Encourages farmers to drain and clear 

 wetlands by providing tax deductions 

 and credits for all types of general 

 development activities 



Indirectly encourages farmers to place 

 previously unfarmed areas, including 

 wetlands, into production 



SOURCE: Office of Technology Assessment, 1983. 



