2 Authority 



B. PURPOSE AND SCOPE 



The NWPCP provides a planning framework, criteria and guidance to 

 determine the locations and types of wetlands, and interests in wetlands, 

 that should receive priority consideration for Federal and State 

 acquisition. The purpose of the NWPCP is to assist decisionmakers in 

 focusing their acquisition efforts on the more important, scarce and 

 vulnerable wetlands in the Nation. The NWPCP was not intended to be a 

 comprehensive wetland conservation plan. The authorized name for the 

 NWPCP does not include "acquisition" in the title, but the Act specifies 

 that the purpose of the NWPCP is priority planning for wetland 

 acquisition. 



Implementation of the NWPCP will result in development of plans or 

 modifications to existing plans that list wetland sites warranting priority 

 consideration for Federal and State acquisition. The NWPCP will also 

 assist the States in complying with section 303 of the Act, which requires 

 that each Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 

 address wetlands within that State as an important outdoor recreation 

 resource. 



As a planning document, this NWPCP: 



1) establishes assessment criteria concerning wetland functions and 

 values, historic wetland losses, and threat of future wetland losses; 



2) addresses other important wetland acquisition considerations; 



3) assists States in complying with section 303 of the Act; 



4) assists in identifying (listing) wetland sites warranting 

 consideration for Federal and State acquisition; and 



5) does not reduce or replace the implementation of other wetland 

 protection or regulatory programs as established by Federal, State or 

 local laws. 



C. AUTHORITY 



The Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-645) was 

 enacted to promote the conservation of our Nation's wetlands in order to 

 maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill migratory bird 

 treaties and conventions by: (1) intensifying cooperative efforts among 

 private interests and local. State and Federal governments for the 



