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PROTECTING AMERICA'S WETLANDS: 



I. INTRODUCTION 



The QiDton Administration is proposing a comprehensive package of improvements to the 

 Federal wetlands program that reflects a new broad-based consensus among Federal agencies. 

 For years, many have argued that the Federal government badly needed to improve its wetlands 

 program to msdce it fairer and more effective. But for too long, contradictory policies from 

 feuding Federal agencies have blocked progress, creating uncertainty and confusion. This 

 wetlands package reflects a sharp break through the past gridlock caused by warring Federal 

 agencies and contains a balanced, common sense, workable set of improvements that will make 

 the program simpler, fairer, better coordinated with state and local efforts and more effective at 

 protecting wetlands. 



The Nation's wetlands perform many functions that are important to society, such as improving 

 water quality, recharging groundwater, providing natural flood control, and supporting a wide 

 variety of fish, wildlife and plants. The economic importance of wetlands to commercial 

 fisheries and recreational uses is also enormous. The Nation has lost nearly half of the wetland 

 acreage that existed in the lower 48 States prior to European settlement. The Nation's wetlands 

 continue to be lost at a rate of hundreds of thousands of acres per year due to both human 

 aaivity and natural processes. This continued loss occurs at great cost to society. 



Notwithstanding the importance of wetland resources, efforts to protect wetlands have caused 

 considerable controversy. It is estimated that 75 percent of the Nation's wetlands in the lower 

 48 States are located on private propeny. It is, therefore, imperative to recognize and consider 

 fully the impacts of wetlands protection policies on individuals who own wetland property. 

 Statutory, regulatory, and policy objcaivcs should be accomplished in a manner that avoids 

 unnecessary impacts upon such landowners. 



Given the environmental and economic significance of wetlands, the alarming rate of wetlands 

 loss, and concerns for private landowners, the Interagency Working Group on Federal Wetlands 

 Policy began developing a comprehensive package of initiatives in June. The policy positions 

 contained in this paper strongly support the effective protection and restoration of the Nation's 

 wetlands, while advocating much-needed reforms to increase the fairness and flexibility of 

 Federal regulatory programs. 



n. A DIVISIVE DEBATE 



i 



Federal programs to protect the Nation's wetlands have been the focus of considerable 

 controversy in recent years. Much of the anention focused upon the 1989 Interagency Wetlands 

 Delineation Manual (1989 Manual). The 1989 Manual w^ prepared jointly by the U.S. Army 

 Corps of Engineers (the Corps), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service (FWS) of the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Agriculture's 

 Soil Conservation Service (SCS). It was developed in response to criticism that Federal agencies 



