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our Constitution provides that private property may not be taken for public use 

 without just compensation. Historically, the landowner has borne the burden 

 of protecting this resource, both in the form of direct cost, and restricted use of 

 property. We strongly believe there is a public obligation to shoulder these 

 costs, since the public at large is the beneficiary. 



Farm Bureau supports the identification, protection and enhancement 

 of quality wetlands, if private property rights are protected and 

 economic growth is enhanced. 



Farm Bureau recommends that Congress affirm that wetlands are located 

 on private property, and if loss of any economic use or value results from 

 regulatory restrictions, the private landowner should be compensated. 



Declaration of Policies and Goals 



Farm Bureau is very concerned about a national policy to achieve an interim 

 goal of no overall net loss of wetlands and a long-term goal of increasing the 

 quality and quantity of the nation's wetlands. The voting delegates of the 

 American Farm Bureau Federation oppose a national goal of no-net-loss of 

 wetlands because such policies protect wetlands above all other natural 

 resource systems or public good. 



We have the following questions about the Administration's proposals to 

 achieve no-net-loss of remaining wetlands and increase the quantity and 

 quality of wetlands in the United States. 



• Does the Administration's proposal require a net gain in wetlands on 

 private property? 



• How many acres of wetlands does the Administration want restored? 



• Does the Administration's no-net-loss policy reaffirm the policy of 

 sequencing in which wetlands are avoided at all costs and protected 

 above all other natural resource systems? 



• Does the Administration's no-net-loss policy require the protection of 

 wetlands regardless of their functions and values or the costs and 

 benefits of wetlands alteration to society? 



• What incentives would the Administration and Congress recommend 

 to encourage wetland restoration? 



