As outlined, the broad policy principals or goals which the Clinton Administration 

 used to craft its wetlands initiative seem laudable. Simultaneously achieving the 

 goals of no net loss; efficient, fair and flexible regulations; increased reliance on 

 non-regulatory programs; expanded partnerships with State and local governments 

 and private parties; and wetlands policy based on credible science is likely to be a 

 difficult task. I look forward to hearing from the Administration witnesses about 

 how these goals will be achieved under the new Federal Wetlands Policy. 



I would like to again commend the Chairman and ranking member for holding 

 this hearing. Ensuring that tour country's wetlands, and the enormous diversity of 

 life which they support, are protected is one of our Subcommittee's most important 

 responsibilities. Today's hearing is an important step in meeting this charge. 



Mr. Studds. Are there further statements here? 

 The gentlewoman from Arkansas. 



STATEMENT OF HON. BLANCHE M. LAMBERT, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM ARKANSAS 



Ms. Lambert. I thank the Chairman for holding this extremely 

 important hearing. The designation of wetlands is a subject I have 

 been very interested in. 



I come from a largely agricultural district, hosting numerous ex- 

 isting wetlands and former wetlands. Also, since the Potlatch land 

 swap, I have the largest timbered wetland in North America in my 

 district. 



Over the years the farmers in my district have become disgrun- 

 tled with the current wetlands regulations, as many have ex- 

 pressed. With four Federal agencies and four varied interpreta- 

 tions, the results often lead to a clash in regulatory actions. These 

 contradictory interpretations give my farmers little guidance in 

 carrying out activities essential to their livelihood. That is certain- 

 ly something we want to work on. 



The administration recognized difficult and hard-to-work-with 

 standards when it released its wetlands policy proposal. 



I wholeheartedly support the Administration's recommendation 

 to include an administrative appeals process and to assign the agri- 

 cultural wetlands identification duties to the Soil Conservation 

 Service. They are well positioned to work with the agricultural 

 community in my district in ultimately hammering out a workable 

 wetlands identification process. 



I also support the administration in grandfathering in 53 million 

 acres of wetlands that have already been converted to crop land. 

 The Administration's codification of this sound policy is well re- 

 ceived, albeit a long time in coming. 



Since a large majority of the wetlands exist on private property, 

 I am also concerned with the lack of recognition from the Adminis- 

 tration in addressing this critical factor. I certainly look forward to 

 working together so we can come out with some kind of a workable 

 solution to address the private property concerns that are involved. 



I do recognize the great importance of wetlands to this country's 

 well being. Once thought of as a mere breeding ground for mosqui- 

 tos, and coming from the delta, I can certainly attest to those mos- 

 quitos; wetlands have proven to be an essential environmental 

 guardian. Wetlands act as a natural filtering system, as protective 

 habitats for many diverse animal and plant species and a barrier 

 against flood damage, as we have heard earlier. 



