National Symposium on Compensatory Mitigation and the Watershed Approach

Sponsored by:
Federal Highway Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ Fisheries
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Facilitated by:
the Environmental Law Institute

May 19-21, 2004
Washington, DC

Symposium Materials

Symposium Report

Forum Participant List

Day One, Wednesday, May 19

Welcome
  • Jessica Wilkinson, Environmental Law Institute (Facilitator)
  • Mark Sudol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Introductions
  • Roxanne Thomas, Environmental Law Institute (Facilitator)
Background, Purpose, and Desired Outcomes
Review of Agenda and Discussion of Ground Rules
Presentation: What does the science say about a watershed approach to regulatory decision-making
Presentation: The “Logical Steps” of a watershed-based approach to compensatory mitigation
Presentation and Experiences: Criteria used to analyze priorities and restoration options Session I

Day Two, Thursday, May 20

Presentation and Experiences: Criteria used to analyze priorities and restoration options Session II
Lunch Speaker:
  • Leonard A. Shabman, Resident Scholar, Resources for the Future
Presentation and Experiences: Criteria used to analyze priorities and restoration options Session III
Presentation and Experiences: The use of watershed-based planning tools and resources in a regulatory context

Day Three, Friday, May 21

Panel Discussion I: How can the “Logistical Steps” be used to make regulatory decisions in areas with existing watershed plans?
  • Steve Eggers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul District
  • Jeffrey Mengler, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Chicago Illinois Field Office
  • Steve Morris, NOAA/Fisheries, Regional Ecosystem Office, Portland
  • Question, Answer, and Facilitated Discussion
Panel Discussion II: How can the “Logistical Steps” be used to make regulatory decisions in areas without existing watershed plans?
  • George Getsinger, NOAA/Fisheries, Habitat Conservation Division, Jacksonville
  • Molly Martindale, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - San Francisco District
  • Richard Prather, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
  • Facilitated Discussion
Wrap-Up and Closing Statements
  • John Goodin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Mark Sudol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Additional Links

EPA, Wetlands Division - With links to policy and technical documents including: Regulatory Guidance Letter 02-2, TEA-21 Guidance Document, and the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Program - Contains information about Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, as well as Section 404 regulations, policy, and guidance
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/index.cfm

NAS study: “Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act

GAO study: “Wetlands Protection: Assessments Needed to Determine Effectiveness of In-Lieu-Fee Mitigation

Washington Department of Ecology: Wetland Mitigation Study
Phase One: Compliance
Phase Two: Evaluating Success

Washington Department of Ecology: Principles of Wetland Planning: A Tool for Evaluating Wetland Projects
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wet-tool/INTRO/TITLE.cfm

Indiana Department of Environmental Management: Wetland Compensatory Mitigation Study
http://www.in.gov/idem/water/planbr/401/mitigationmon.cfml

USACE IWR Study: “Review and Analysis of In Lieu Fee Mitigation in the CWA Section 404 Permit Program”
http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/iwr/pdf/IWRReport_ILF_Nov00.PDF

Report by EPA Region 6 in Dallas
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6wq/ecopro/em/permits/index.cfm

ELI Wetland Mitigation Banking Study