How is the growing season defined in the proposed revised Federal Manual? 



The growing season in the proposed revised Federal Manual is the interval between 

 three weeks before the average date of the last killing frost in the spring to three weeks 

 after the average date of the first killing frost in the fall, with exceptions for wetland 

 areas experiencing freezing temperatures throughout the year (e.g., montane, tundra 

 and boreal areas) that nevertheless support hydrophytic vegetation. This growing 

 season for a particular area can be determined by consulting local weather data. 



EFFECTS OF THE REVISIONS TO THE FEDERAL MANUAL 



Will the revisions make it harder to get a Section 404 permit? 



No, the revisions will not affect the Section 404 permit process for those areas 

 identified as jurisdictional wetlands. When a revised Federal Manual is implemented, it, 

 like the 1989 Federal Manual, will only identify whether or not an area is a 

 jurisdictional wetland. It will not change the permit evaluation process. 



However, EPA and the Corps continue to respond to concerns raised over the 

 complexity and time consumed by the permit application process by making other 

 administrative changes. These include working on joint permitting procedures with 

 interested states, proposing new nationwide and regional permits for activities in 

 wetlands that have minimal environmental impacts, developing joint guidance to clarify 

 existing policies, encouraging coordination between permit applicants and Federal 

 agencies prior to permit application, and providing more accessible information about 

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



In addition, the Administration announced on August 9, 1991, a comprehensive plan for 

 improving the protection of the nation's wetlands, including measures to improve the 

 Section 404 regulatory program (see attached Fact Sheet on "Protecting America's 

 Wetlands"). EPA and the Corps will provide further guidance as we move in this 

 direction. 



What is the effect of the revisions to the scope of jurisdiction? 



The extent of potential changes in jurisdiction will be identified during the field testing. 

 The proposed revisions are intended to reduce the potential for erroneous wetland 

 determinations -- that is identifying an area as a wetland that is not a wetland or 

 conversely, identifying a wetland as upland. 



One of the goals of the proposed revision process is to clarify to the public what areas 

 are wetlands. Over the past two years much of the controversy over the scope of 



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