CRS-33 



impacts. These persons point out that the inventory will be extremely valuable 

 for wetlands scientists and as a resource survey tool; it should not be placed 

 in a situation where it could be discredited through attempts to use it to 

 solve regulatory questions. 



The new classification system and more sophisticated survey tools show 

 areas that have not been designated as wetlands before, for scientific pur- 

 poses. The regulatory program is not going to expand because the inventory 

 has designated additional wetland areas. Some States have found the Federal 

 inventory to be insufficient, initiating their own efforts at determining 

 boundaries and areas under jurisdiction. The roles of the regulatory program 

 and the inventory should not be blurred together — to do so would discredit 

 each effort. 



