53 



10 PROTECTING AMERICA'S WETLANDS; 



•• Revise the Executive Order on Wetlands. The existing Executive Order on wetlands 

 (E.0. 11990) will be revised to direct the Federal agencies to take a wateisbed/ecosystem 

 ^>proach to wetlands protection and restoratioiL In addition, it vdll require Federal 

 agencies that conduct or assist with multi-objective natural resource planning to 

 incorporate wetlands protection into their programs to the extent practicable. 



-• Provide Better and Coordinated Information and Technical Assistance on Wetland 

 Issues. The Federal agencies will coordinate efforts to provide Sutes, Tribes, regional 

 and local govenunents, and the public with timely, consistent information concerning 

 wetlands programs. The agencies will develop a strategic plan for delivering information 

 on regulatory programs, and encourage the development of iimovative education and 

 outreach materials and initiatives to assist the public in understanding wetlands issues. 



The Administration will also direct the Wetlands Subcommittee of the Federal Geographic 

 Data Committee to complete reconciliation and integration of all Federal agency wetland 

 inventory activities. In addition, the Administration will coordinate wetlands restoration, 

 research, inventory, monitoring, cooperative programs, and information and education 

 aaivitics. 



C. AGRICULTURE 



Issue Dennition: Two Federal statutes regulate certain activities in wetlands on agricultural 

 lands. The Food Security Act Wetlands Conservation provision, which is known as the 

 Swampbuster program, is administered by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) of the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Dejwrtment 

 of the Interior. The Qean Water Act Section 404 program is administered jointly by the 

 Department of the Army and the Environmental Protection Agency. American farmers have at 

 times been subjected to needless duplication and frustrating inconsistency in the implementation 

 of these two statutes. 



Administration Position: The Administration recognizes the valuable contribution of 

 agricultural producers to the Nation's economy and more generally to the American way 

 of life. We also appreciate the challenges faced by farmers as they try to comply with 

 wetlands regulations, as well as other environmental requirements affecting farm 

 operations. As a result, the Administration is committed to ensuring that Federal wetlands 

 programs do not place imneccssary restrictions/ or burdens on farmers and other 

 landowners, while providing necessary environmental safeguards. 



The Administration has identified a number of actions that can be taken to reduce the 

 impaa of these two wetlands proteaion programs on American agriculture. At the heart 

 of this effort is a commitment on the part of all Federal agencies involved to work closely 

 and cooperatively to coordinate their work under these two statutes so as to increase 

 efficiency, minimize duplication, and reduce inconsistencies between the programs. 



