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31, 1993. An allocation of $15 million was used to purchase permanent easements on 

 25,000 acres. The initial sign-up for the WRP, in 1992, resulted in 49,888 acres slated for 

 weUands protection. A second sign-up for the WRP was recenUy completed, with the total 

 acreage offered for enrollment far exceeding the 75,000 acres scheduled. These programs 

 have been well received by States and private landowners and are especially important in 

 those States that historically have suffered large wetiand losses. The Administration 

 supports these types of Federal programs, which encourage restoration of wetlands 

 through cooperative agreements with private and other non-Federal landowners. We have 

 found that building partnerships with landowners, conservation groups. State and local 

 agencies, and other interests is an extremely effective mechanism to pool fmancial and 

 technical resources and expand wetlands restoration opportunities. These voluntary efforts 

 are essential to the Administration's long-term goal of increasing the quality and quantity of 

 our wetiand resource. 



The Administration believes that it is critical to increase State and local roles in wetiands 

 protection, reduce duplication among wetiand protection programs at different levels of 

 government, and streamline decision processes for permittees. Toward this end, the 

 Administtation encourages Congress to adopt several measures. The first is to authorize the 

 development of State/Tribal watershed protection programs which include minimum 

 requirements for wetlands protection and restoration planning. Congress should also endorse 

 the development of State/Tribal Comprehensive Wetland Plans. In addition, the Administration 

 recommends that Congress provide EPA with the authority to use its Wetlands Grant program 

 to fund both the development and implementation of State wetiand programs. 



The Administration believes Congress should authorize partial assumption of the Section 404 

 program by States and Tribes as an interim step toward full assumption. We also recommend 

 that Congress amend Section 404(e) of the Clean Water Act to provide explicitly for the 



