CRS-96 



The Corps and the Fish and Wildlife Service work through a memorandum of 

 understanding, signed in 1967, which requires consultation and consideration 

 of fish and wildlife resources in permit decisions. If the Corps' district 

 office and the Service's regional office cannot agree on a permit decision, 

 the disagreement can be referred to the national offices of both agencies. 



The role of both Services is only advisory. 133 / In reviewing permits, 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service uses two concepts; whether alternative non-water 

 sites are feasible, and whether construction and operation can be accomplished 

 in the least environmentally destructive manner. Subsequent legislative enact- 

 ments such as the National Environmental Policy Act and administrative pro- 

 nouncements, such as the Executive Order on Protection of Wetlands (E.O. 11990), 

 have strengthened the coordination process and the role of these two advisory 

 agencies, as well as other Federal agencies and departments. 



OTHER WETLAND PROGRAMS 



Water Bank Program 



The Water Bank Program, administered by the Agricultural Stabilization 

 and Conservation Service (ASCS) in the Department of Agriculture, makes payments 

 to landowners and farm operators under 10-year land-use agreements in important 

 migratory waterfowl nesting and breeding areas. Agreements include provisions 

 for renewal. During the life of the agreement, the property owner agrees not 

 to destroy the wetland qualities of the area by such activities as draining, 

 filling, or burning. The payment rate varies for each agreement, and the rate 



133 / Hirsch, Allan. Wetland Protection Programs of the U.S. Fish and 

 Wildlife Protection Symposium. In Proceedings-National Wetlands Protection 

 Symposium, FWS/OBS-78/97 . U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, U.S. 

 Govt. Print. Off., 1978. p. 112. 



