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f. Compensating for Wetlands Impacts. 



As a condition of any permit allowing alteration of wetlands 

 and/or wetland buffers, or as an enforcement action pursuant to 

 Section 8.2, the [Approval Authority] shall require that the 

 applicant engage in the restoration, creation or enhancement of 

 wetlands and their buffers in order to offset the impacts 

 resulting form the applicant's or violator's actions. The 

 Applicant shall develop a plan that provides for land 

 acquisition, construction, maintenance and monitoring of 

 replacement wetlands that recreate as nearly as possible the 

 original wetlands in terms of acreage, function, geographic 

 location and setting, and that are larger than the original 

 wetlands. The overall goal of any compensatory project shall be 

 no net loss of wetlands function and acreage and to strive for 

 a net resource gain in wetlands over present conditions. 

 Compensation shall be completed prior to wetland destruction, 

 where possible. 



Compensatory mitigation shall follow an approved mitigation 

 plan pursuant to Section 7.5.g and shall meet the following 

 minimvim performance standards: 



1) Given the uncertainties in scientific knowledge and the need 

 for expertise and monitoring, wetland compensatory projects may 

 be permitted only when the [Approval Authority] finds that the 

 compensation project is associated with an activity or 

 development otherwise permitted and that the restored, created, 

 or enhanced wetland will be as persistent as the wetland it 

 replaces. Additionally, Applicants shall: 



A. demonstrate sufficient scientific expertise, supervisory 

 capability, and financial resources to carry out the 

 pro j ect ; 



B. demonstrate the capability for monitoring the site and to 

 make corrections during this period if the project fails 

 to meet projected goals; and 



C. protect and manage or provide for the protection and 

 management of the compensation area to avoid further 

 development or degradation and to provide for long-term 

 persistence of the compensation area. 



2) Wetlands Restoration and Creation. 



A. Any person who alters regulated wetlands shall restore or 

 create equivalent areas or greater areas of wetlands than 

 those altered in order to compensate for wetland losses. 



B. Where feasible, restored or created wetlands shall be a 

 higher category than the altered wetland. 



C. Compensation areas shall be determined according to 

 function, acreage, type, location, time factors, ability 

 to be self sustaining and projected success. Wetland 

 functions and values shall be calculated using the best 



