PUBUC INPUT PIANNED ON THE PROPOSED REVISIONS - There has been 

 and continues to be significant public interest in the 1989 Federal Manual and potential 

 revisions. The proposed revised Federal Manual was published on August 14, 1991, in 

 the Federal Register for public comment. The public is invited to review and provide 

 technical comments on the proposed revisions. Written comments must be submitted 

 on or before October 15, 1991. 



At the same time the proposed revised Federal Manual will undergo extensive 

 field testing by the four federal agencies. Also during the public comment period an 

 independent panel, as well as EPA and the Corps of Engineers, will review and field 

 test the proposed revised Federal Manual. The field testing and public comments will 

 provide important input into the final Federal Manual revisions, particularly in those 

 areas identified above. Of particular importance to us is to maintain and improve the 

 scientific validity of our delineation methods. Because of the importance of receiving 

 public comment and field testing the proposed revisions, the revised Federal Manual 

 will not be implemented until after the public review period and final revisions. 



GETTING MORE INFORMATION - EPA has established the Wetlands Protection 

 Hotline, a toll-free telephone service, (800) 832-7828. This service provides information 

 and publications on wetland protection efforts involving EPA and other public and 

 private programs. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, excluding Federal 

 holidays, fi^om 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. Eastern Standard Time. 



For additional information regarding the Section 404 program, local EPA 

 Regional Offices and Corps District offices may be of assistance. The Corps District 

 office and EPA Regional offices can be found in the telephone directory or by calling 

 the EPA Wetlands Hotline at (800) 832-7828. 



For additional information on the Swampbuster program, contact your county 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture SCS office or call the EPA Wetlands Hotline at 

 (800) 832-7828 for the number of your State Conservationist. 



OBTAINING COPIES OF THE REVISED FEDERAL MANUAL - Copies of the 

 proposed revised Federal Manual can be obtained from the EPA Wetlands Hotline at 

 (800) 832-7828. Hotline representatives can also provide referrals for answers to 

 questions regarding the proposed revised Federal Manual. 



FURTHER CUVRIFYING THE SECTION 404 PROGRAM - Much of the pubUc is 

 laboring under the misunderstanding that if an area is identified as a wetland, any 

 activity that takes place in the wetland is either regulated or prohibited. This is not 

 true. 



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