Section 404 jurisdiction. This made the Section 404 program more consistent with the 

 Swampbuster provisions of the Farm Bill, thereby increasing consistency between 

 Federal wetlands programs. 



General Permits - General permits may be issued on a state, regional or nationwide 

 basis. The general permits are designed to expedite the permitting process as long as 

 authorized activities do not result in more than minimal environmental harm. At this 

 time, there are 26 nationwide permits in effect, and the Corps is currently proposing 

 additional nationwide permits. In addition, EPA and the Corps have been working with 

 the States of Maryland, Georgia and Mississippi to develop State and regional program 

 general permits. 



Joint Federal/State Processing - EPA and the Corps have also developed Memoranda 

 of Agreement with States to set up systems to increase consistency in joint 

 Federal/State permit processing. For example, EPA Region 9 and Corps South Pacific 

 Division have developed a Memorandum of Agreement with the California Department 

 of Transportation to provide clear guidance on mitigation requirements. 



Early Coordination - EPA and Corps staff work together to resolve differences 

 regarding individual permit applications (e.g., project alternatives, mitigation 

 requirements, specific permit conditions) early in the review process. Permit applicants 

 are encouraged to initiate pre-application meetings with regional staff from the Corps, 

 EPA and other commenting agencies to discuss concerns that these agencies might have 

 with a proposed activity and to resolve differences prior to an application being 

 submitted. In so doing, the actual permit review period may be significantly reduced. 

 In order to facilitate these discussions, numerous Corps Districts hold regularly- 

 scheduled (e.g., quarterly, monthly) meetings for applicants and the other agencies 

 including EPA. 



Fostering Partnerships with State and Local Programs - Over the last two years, EPA 

 has increased its work with States on wetlands protection through the State Wetlands 

 Protection Grants Program. Thirty-eight States are receiving EPA funding, eleven of 

 which are developing State Wetlands Conservation Plans. These plans include 

 developing comprehensive statewide strategies for strengthening and coordinating the 

 many programs that affect wetlands in a State, and can lead to additional administrative 

 reforms in certain geographic areas, more effective communication between government 

 agencies and the regulated sector and conflict avoidance between wetlands protection 

 and development proposals. 



Additional States and Indian tribes are using grants to develop classification systems; 

 inventory wetlands; develop restoration, creation and enhancement programs; assess the 

 effects of site-specific mitigation requirements and design "wetland banks" to account for 

 wetlands losses and gains. 



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