Protecting Wetlands Under Clean Water Act 404: EPA's Conservation Policy on Mitigation

Mitigation of adverse environrmental impacts is a vital issue in the proper administration of the Clean Water Act §404 program. In particular, mitigative actions can provide increased opportunities to protect, restore, enhance, or create a valuable natural resource- wetlands. Recently, mitiagation issues have received increasing attention. They have been at the center of public forum discussions and important regulatory decisions which impact the level of protection afforded to wetland resources, and will be the central topic addressed at an upcoming symposium in New Orleans sponsored by the Association of State Wetland Managers.