46 



A FAIR, FLEXIBLE, AND EFFECTIVE APPROACH 



were not using a single set of common pnx:edures to "delineate" — or identify — wetlands 

 under the jurisdiction of programs administered by these agencies. 



But rather than alleviating concerns about inconsistency, the 1989 Manual only further fueled the 

 controversy. Critics claimed that the 1989 Manual represented a major expansion of regulatory 

 jurisdiction without opportunity for public participation. In response, the Bush Administration 

 embarked upon a closed-door effort to revise the 1989 Manual. This process resulted in the 

 technically flawed 1991 Manual that would have dramatically and indefensibly reduced the 

 amount of wetlands subject to protection. The proposed 1991 Manual generated even further 

 controversy and resulted in even greater polarization of the debate on Federal wetlands policy. 



In addition to assailing the 1989 Manual, critics of Federal wetlands regulatory programs 

 effeaively characterized those programs as unfair, inflexible, inconsistent, and confusing. 

 Supporters of wetlands protection responded — with equal effectiveness — by emphasizing the 

 environmental and economic benefits associated with protecting the Nation's wetlands. 



As both sides voiced their strongly held opinions, the debate over Federal wetlands policy 

 became inaeasingly divisive. The opposition that developed to both the 1989 and 1991 Manuals 

 demonstrated the policy deadlock that had developed. Wetlands policy has become one of the 

 most controversial environmental issues facing the Federal government, just as Congress embarks 

 upon the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act. 



in. THE INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON FEDERAL WETLANDS POUCY 



The Administration convened the Interagency Working Group on Federal Wetlands Policy in 

 early June with the goal of developing a package of Qinton Administration initiatives to break 

 the deadlock over Federal wetlands policy. The group has been chaired by the White House 

 Office on Environmental Policy and has included the participation of the EPA, the Army (the 

 Corps of Engineers), the Office of Management and Budget, and the Departments of Agriculture, 

 Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice, and Transportation. 



The working group sought the views of a broad range of stakeholders representing all 

 perspectives in the wetlands debate. For example, the working group has received presentations 

 that have included: a bipartisan group of eight members of the U.S. Congress; representatives of 

 State and local government; environmentalists; the development community; agricultural interests; 

 scientists and others. 



i 



After listening to this broad range of intercsu, the working group began its policy deliberations 

 by establishing the following five principles that serve as the framewoiic for the Administration's 

 comprehensive package of wetlands reform initiative^. 



