Implementation Guidance 41 



e. EPA Regional Priority Wetland lists 



Each of the EPA's 10 Regional Offices has prepared or is currently 

 developing a list of priority wetlands within its Region. TTiese lists seek 

 to identify the most valuable and vulnerable wetlands based on input from 

 the Department of the Interior and other agencies and organizations. 



The purpose of the lists is to assist EPA in focusing wetland Protection 

 efforts under the section 404 regulatory Program^ These authoriti s 

 include section 230.80 of the Guidelines, section 404(c actions (both in 

 response to and in advance of permit applications), fef^^" f ^^f 

 elevations and actions under the National Environmental Policy Act. 

 and section 309 of the Clean Air Act. 



The EPA has determined that there will be no ranking among wetlands 

 and that the Regional Priority Wetland Lists >^" ^e P«"<>f?<=^"y "P^^'f^^^ 

 These lists will provide an important source of information concern ng 

 wetlands that may warrant consideration for acquisition under the 

 ^CP However' the EPA Regional Priority Wetland Usts will differ 

 from the lists generated through the Service Regional Wetlands Concept 

 Plans. The lists will be similar in that they are fundamentally based on 

 Identifying wetlands that are both valuable and threatened. They w,ll be 

 vastly different in their management orientation ^o.tl^ese wetlands. The 

 EPA lists emphasize regulatory efficiency, and Service ists wiH be based 

 on eventual acquisition as the best alternative for ong-termprotecUon or 

 realization of public values. Particular wetland sites may be added to or 

 removed from either or both the Service or EPA lists depending on factors 

 such as changing threats or effectiveness of regulatory efforts. 



Environmental Protection Agency and Service Regional Office staff 

 should meet informally several times each year to discuss the Concept 

 Plans and EPA Regional Priority Wetland lists. The focus should be on 

 the interrelationships between these priority listing efforts and how 

 regulatory or acquisition activities of the respective agencies can 

 complement each other for more effective wetland protection. 



1 list of Wetlands of International Importance 



The NWPCP can also help in the early identification of wetlands of 



international importance. The Convention on Wetlands of International 



mrrtance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Convention) is an 



nter^ltional treaty w'hich provides the framework for international 



cooperation to conserve wetland habitats. The Convention places obhg- 



at ons on contracting parties (nations) r^'-^-^.Xr'''f:r^7^^Z 

 and specifies that each party shall designate suitable wetiands with n its 

 teiTi o^for inclusion in a List of Wetiands of International -POftance 

 niTeni^tional List). Placing a wetland site on the International List, 

 however affects neither the management regime for the area nor resource 



National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan 



