|
 |
|
State, Tribal and Local Initiatives
States and Tribes play a critical role in the protection and
management of our Nation's wetlands. Most States and many
Tribes have increased their roles in wetlands protection and management
by adopting any of a number of wetlands programs or tools. Components
of comprehensive wetlands programs which various States and Tribes
have adopted include:
- assuming the federal Clean Water
Act Section 404 permit program or obtaining State Program General
Permits from the Corps of Engineers
- undertaking comprehensive State Wetland Conservation Plans
which identify strengths and needs in a state's program,
and often develop the framework for a state's wetlands program
- developing narrative wetland water quality standards
- applying the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification
program
- adopting non-regulatory programs such as watershed/wetlands
planning initiatives, taxation programs, acquisition programs,
and others
- incorporating wetlands considerations into other state water
programs.
State Wetland Program General Information
- Core Elements of Comprehensive State and Tribal Wetlands Programs
The EPA Wetlands Program has identified "basic" and "core" elements critical to effective, comprehensive wetland programs.
- Analysis of Core Components of State Wetland Programs
The Environmental Law Institute, with grant funding from the EPA, has conducted a multi-phased study designed to describe and analyze seven components of state wetland programs: state laws, regulations, and programs;
monitoring and assessment; restoration programs and activities; water quality standards; public-private partnerships; coordination among state and federal agencies; and education and outreach activities. Each phase of the study
examines a cross-section of states representing various approaches to wetland protection and regulation, as well as geographic diversity.
Phase I report: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington 
Phase II report: Florida, Hawaii, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Phase III report: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming
Phase IV report: Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi,Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Tennessee
Financial Assistance
- State/Tribal/Local Wetlands Grant Program
Since 1990, this Federal grants program has supported State,
Tribal, and local efforts to protect wetlands by providing
funds to enhance existing programs or develop new programs.
- Five Star Restoration
Grant Program
- State
Revolving Fund (SRF) and Wetlands
- Other
Wetland Grant Information
- Catalog of Federal
Funding Sources for Watershed Protection
State/Tribal Regulatory Program
- State Programmatic General Permits (SPGP)
- Increasing
State, Tribal, & Regional Roles in Wetlands Protection
- State
Programmatic General Permits Guidance - outlines steps
to increase deference to State/Tribal wetlands decision-making
and to reduce overlap between State/Tribal programs and
the Federal wetlands program. (PDF format, 4 pages, 32 KB)
- State/Tribal Assumption of Section 404 Program
The Wetlands Division of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds published a notice in the Federal Register
on July 11, 2006, regarding the collection of information related to wetlands state/tribal assumed programs. This
notice is a renewal of an existing collection request that is scheduled to expire in November of 2006. EPA is
requesting comments on this Information Collection Request (ICR). Comments must be received by September 11,
2006.
For more information, please consult the ICR announcement (PDF) (1p, 20K, about PDF).
- Overview
of Section 404 Assumption - explains how States and
Tribes can take a more active role in administering the Section
404 program.
- Text
of State Program Regulations, 40 CFR 233 - specifies
the procedures and criteria used by EPA in assessing State
assumption of section 404 programs. (PDF format, 98KB)
- Text
of Tribal Assumption Regulations (40 CFR, Part 233,
Subpart G) regulations that specify the procedures and criteria
used by EPA in assessing Tribal assumption of section 404
programs. (PDF format, 18KB)
- State/Tribal Water Quality Standards
State/Tribal Watershed Planning
State Wetlands Conservation Plans (SWCP) - A State Wetlands
Conservation Plan or Strategy (SWCP) gives States a framework
to protect, restore and create wetlands. It identifies gaps
in wetlands protection programs and opportunities to make programs
work better.
- Tribal
Wetland Program Highlights - (EPA843-R-99-002). Eleven case
studies are presented which highlight the experiences of tribal
organizations and feature varying components of Tribal programs,
including tools and strategies currently employed to protect
and restore wetlands and watersheds.
- Increasing Flexibility in Alaska
- Alaska
Wetlands Initiative Summary
- Alaska Wetlands
Initiative (PDF Format) - 1994 package of recommendations
responding to the needs of Alaskans that reflect the unique
circumstances in that state.
Local Initiatives
- Increasing Local
Roles in Wetlands Protection
- Tools for Local Wetland Efforts
- Guidance
on Developing Local Wetlands Projects -This document
outlines brief case studies of three local wetland programs:
King County (Seattle), Washington; Dade County (Miami),
Florida; and Monroe County (Pocono Mountains), Pennsylvania.
It identifies types of wetlands protection programs, the
methods of implementation, successes and failures, and recommendations
to local governments.
- Local Government Environmental
Assistance Network (LGEAN) - is a "first-stop shop"
providing environmental management, planning, and regulatory
information for local government elected and appointed officials,
managers and staff.
- Wetlands
& the Forestry Community - The Environmental
Protection Agency spearheaded the resolution of a long-standing
silvicultural issue affecting forested wetlands in the Southeast,
by adopting an innovative partnership approach, developed in
coordination with forestry industry, environmental community,
and State and Federal representatives.
- Wetlands & the
Golf Community - Starting in 1995, the EPA Wetlands
Division joined an existing initiative to find common ground
between the golf industry and the environmental community, and
to advance golf course environmental responsibility.
State, Tribal, and Local Partners
Links to Web sites outside the U.S. EPA Web site are for the convenience
of the user. The Standards of Ethical Conduct do not permit the
U.S. EPA to endorse any private sector Web site, product, or service.
The U.S. EPA does not exercise any editorial control over the information
you may find at this location. These links are being provided consistent
with the intended purpose of the EPA Web site.
State
Tribal
Local
| You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Adobe PDF files on this page. See EPA's PDF page for more information about getting and using the free Acrobat Reader. |
|
