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current program), could have a number of administrative benefits, these persons 

 contend, since the miles of waters regulated would be reduced by a small per- 

 centage, while the number of wetland acres regulated would be reduced by a 

 large percentage (see pages 83-85). Such curtailment of the program would re- 

 duce the Corps' permit processing task and would enable Corps personnel to con- 

 centrate on permitting activities directly relating to navigation. In turn, 

 this would benefit persons interested in navigation who may have suffered per- 

 mit processing delays in the past as a result of the broad scope of the pro- 

 gram. Four bills have been introduced in the 97th Congress to reduce Federal 

 wetlands jurisdiction. 



Con 



Persons who oppose reducing the scope of section 404 argue that all wet- 

 land areas have a high value. The functions that combine to make up that 

 value are becoming better understood every year. But at the same time, the 

 Nation's wetland areas have been disappearing at a rapid rate (see pages 65- 

 68). As more is learned about the unique functions and capabilities of wet- 

 lands, the need to protect this disappearing resource becomes more apparent. 

 One means of protecting wetlands is protecting water quality in adjacent water- 

 ways. Protecting water quality, especially around small wetlands, may mean 

 some special management practices on adjacent buffer areas. A policy that per- 

 mits reduction of overall wetland resources would appear to be inconsistent 

 with newly recognized facts regarding the valued services provided by wetlands 

 in their natural condition and the rapid disappearence of such existing wetland 

 resources, these persons contend. 



Supporters of the current section 404 program hold the view that the 

 Corps' regulatory program is an important mechanism for protecting the integ- 

 rity and use of the entire aquatic ecosystem, including wetlands. This 



