Implementation Guidance 37 



4. FEDERAL WETLAND ACQUISITIONS 



All agencies within the Department will ensure that wetlands acquired 

 under the authority of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act using 

 LWCF moneys, in full or in part, are either: 1) listed in the Concept 

 Plans- or 2) subjected to evaluation under the NWPCP Threshold Criteria 

 or Threshold Criteria modified to meet agency needs and found to 

 warrant priority consideration for acquisition. The Emergency Wet- 

 lands Resources Act, however, exempts wetland acquisitions using 

 Migratory Bird Conservation Funds from being consistent with the 

 NWPCP. The Service acquisition process is described m section G (5Xc). 



Section 502 of the Act authorized the establishment of the Bayou Sauvage 

 Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Significantly, this provision demon- 

 strates Congressional intent that a broad variety of public values are 

 considered in the decision te acquire a wetland site. The Bayou Sauvage 

 Urban National Wildlife Refuge will provide public benefits associated 

 with fish and wildlife resources (including endangered and threatened 

 species), outdoor recreation opportunities, scientific research and 

 environmental education, archaeological resources and location withm 

 an urban setting. 



5 OTHER LEGISLATION, PLANS, PROCEDURES, 

 PROGRAMS AND POLICIES 



a. Food Security Act of 1985 



The Food Security Act of 1985 (Farm Bill) encourages removal of 

 marginal agricultural lands from production and provides various 

 opportunities for wetland habitat protection and restoration while 

 reducing Federal subsidy costs. Sections 1314 (Disposition and Leasing of 

 Farmland) and 1318 (Farm Debt Restructure and Conservation Set-Aside) 

 of the Farm Bill ofTer opportunities through acquisitions (e.g., fee "tie. 

 conservation easement, deed restrictions, leases) te protect fish and 

 wildlife resources. 



Under section 1314. local or State governments or private non-profit 

 organizations may obtain easements, deed restrictions or the equivalent 

 for conservation purposes on Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) 

 inventery lands prior to resale. FmHA has acquired over 1.7 million 

 acres of inventory lands through voluntary conveyance and non-FmHA 

 initiated foreclosure proceedings. Once acquired, FmHA seeks te resell 



National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan 



