Wetlands - Changes for the 90's, 1990 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Wetlands have became an important environmental issue, and may emerge as one of the pre-eminent issues of the 1990’s. Wetlands protection is being used, especially by environmental groups, to curtail property development; and regulatory agencies are prosecuting landowners far improper filling of wetlands areas.

Several federal agencies have responsibilities for protecting wetlands. In 1989, after twelve months of deliberation, four federal agencies, the Army Carps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Sail Conservation Service, agreed upon criteria far delineating wetlands. Described in the Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands, these criteria include vegetation, sails, and hydrology.

This presentation discusses the following:

*the criteria used to identify jurisdictional wetlands, as described in the 1989 manual;

*federal regulations governing wetlands and policies used far enforcement of these regulations;

*effects that wetlands may have on the pulp and paper industry; and

*strategies that may be useful for addressing wetlands issues.