'J 



rrrif.t ra^^^efar. ^^ero^rpLretr: TrpX. 



Cn" Zlyntfagr^'tha. spedL .echnica. changes wou,d be appropna.e 

 to make the Federal Manual more effective and understandable. 



The proposed revisions tighten the evidence requirements for the .^^ree parameters -^ 



EPA and the Corps in implementing the Section 404 program or by SCS m 

 implementing the Swampbuster program. 



The oroDOsed revisions incorporate technical knowledge derived from its use in the past 

 1^0 y'earf nd ror^ improvements in the state of science. The revisions address many 

 7th'e issues raised during the public meetings and public comment penod (the summer 

 of 1990). 



What was the revision process of the 1989 Federal Manual? What was the role of the 

 public in the revision process? 



After over a year of implementation of the 1989 Federal Manual, the four agencies 

 ^ d that th Federamanual needed additional clarification and changes. Be ause 

 offhe suolgpublic interest in the Federal Manual, the tour agencies provided the 

 puMc everll'opportunities to provide technical comments as par, of '"e revts on 

 process Four public hearings were held in spnng and summer 1990 - m Baton Rouge, 

 ?T c!;.™mpntn CA- St Paul MN; and, Baltimore, MD. In addition, wntten 

 ^enronh;m9Fed: a, Manual ;ere also accepted subsequent to the meetings. 

 M^^han 500 letters were received and reviewed. We beUeve that this process has 

 ^r redLirtlirLd meaningful information ^esul. oHo^a. fie^ .e.»^ 



A .^A K„ RPA tn evaluate the samp ng protocols of the 1989 bederai manual duu 

 ^:;trby fi'elfstff onhe" «„ato^^ fgLcies using the Federal Manual were also 

 reviewed and considered in developing recommended revisions. 



What was the role of the technical committee? 



The Federal Interagency Committee for Wetland Delineation is ^f*"'^' '"'^^^ 



A f f^.hJrc^] ^taff from the four agenc es that developed the 1989 federal 

 JSTaf En2:rmlmot"Agency, l^rps of Engineers, Soil Conservation 



