The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) today (Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003) reiterated the Administration�s commitment to the goal of �no net loss� of wetlands in the United States.
EPA and Army Corps Issue Wetlands Decision The adverse impacts to the aquatic environment are offset by mitigation requirements.
Recognizing Wetlands (The Following is from the link below}
Inspection and surveillance activities are carried out by all means at the district engineer disposal. Corps of Engineers employees are instructed on the observation and reporting of suspected unauthorized activities in waters of the United States and of violations of issued permits. The assistance of members of the public and other interested Federal, State and local agencies is encouraged.
When the district engineer becomes aware of any unauthorized activity still in progress, he must first issue a cease and desist order and then begin an investigation of the activity to ascertain facts concerning alleged violations. If the unauthorized activity has been completed he will advise the responsible party of his discovery and begin an investigation. Following his evaluation, the district engineers may formulate recommendations on the appropriate administrative course or legal action to be taken.
Presently about 5,500 alleged violations are processed in Corps district offices each year. The approximate breakdown by authority is: Section 10, 10 percent; Section 404, 75 percent; and Section 10/404, 15 percent.
REGULATORY PROGRAM My two cents, Jersey has ran into something that more people will run into. Supporters of wildlife conservation and other conservation organizations are the driving force behind these regulations.
Their definition of navigable waters includes streams that can be stepped across. With navigable waters and wetlands defined like they are a lot of area is regulated.
