Wetlands

  • News
  • by BPC Staff
  • on June 19, 2012
  • 0 Comments

Below is the link to an article about wetlands issues:

 http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/cwa401/docs/wrapp/wetlands_faq2012.pdf.

 

A few quotable quotes in the FAQ document include:

 

“The policy is expected to add consistency and transparency to the determination of wetland areas, and help resolve potential conflicts in areas of overlapping regulatory jurisdiction.”

 

“Does the policy create a new regulatory program?  No. The policy adjusts the regulatory program to make permitting for dredging and fill consistent across all the Water Boards. The requirements in the proposed policy are essentially the same as those required by the Corps.”

 

“For clarity purposes the Water Boards propose to refine the wetland definition. The proposed change will provide the regulated community greater certainty about the need to avoid impacts to unvegetated wetlands.”

 

Also, as it relates to the Preliminary Draft, the Board’s website does include a disclaimer regarding the policy stating that the “Policy release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the initiation of a formal notice and comment period on a draft policy for water quality control.”  Yet, the FAQ states that the “State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) is considering a new policy on wetlands.”