{ "id": "RL33483", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL33483", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 586911, "date": "2017-01-05", "retrieved": "2020-01-02T14:57:36.378999", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": "Recent Congresses have considered numerous policy topics that involve wetlands. Many reflect issues of long-standing interest, such as applying federal regulations on private lands, wetland loss rates, and restoration and creation accomplishments. \nThe issue receiving the greatest attention recently has been determining which wetlands should be included and excluded from requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA), especially the Section 404 permit program that regulates waste discharges affecting wetlands, which is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a result of Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006 that narrowed federal regulatory jurisdiction over certain isolated wetlands, the jurisdictional reach of the permit program has also been narrowed. In 2015, EPA and the Army Corps promulgated a rule to define the scope of waters protected by the CWA. The rule revises the existing administrative definition of \"waters of the United States\" consistent with the Supreme Court\u2019s rulings and consistent with science concerning the interconnectedness of tributaries, wetlands, and other waters and the effects of these connections on the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of downstream waters. The rule has been controversial with groups and many Members of Congress who contend that it would vastly increase federal assertion of jurisdiction that triggers CWA regulatory requirements.\nWetland protection efforts continue to engender controversy over issues of science and policy. Topics include the rate and pattern of loss, whether all wetlands should be protected in a single fashion, the effectiveness of the current suite of laws in protecting them, and the fact that 75% of remaining U.S. wetlands are located on private lands.\nMany public and private efforts have sought to mitigate damage to wetlands and to protect them through acquisition, restoration, enhancement, and creation, particularly coastal wetlands. While recent data indicate success in some restoration efforts, leading to increases in some types of wetlands in some locations, many scientists question if restored or created wetlands provide equivalent replacement for natural wetlands that contribute multiple environmental services and values.\nOne reason for controversies about wetlands is that they occur in a wide variety of physical forms, and the numerous values they provide, such as wildlife habitat, also vary widely. In addition, the total wetland acreage in the lower 48 states is estimated to have declined from more than 220 million acres three centuries ago to 110.1 million acres in 2009. The national policy goal of no net loss, endorsed by Administrations for the past two decades, had been reached by 2004, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service, as the rate of loss had been more than offset by net gains through expanded restoration efforts authorized in multiple laws. However, more recent data show wetlands losses of nearly 14,000 acres per year. Many protection advocates say that gains do not necessarily account for the changes in quality of the remaining wetlands, and many also view federal protection efforts as inadequate or uncoordinated. Others, who advocate the rights of property owners and development interests, characterize these efforts as too intrusive. Numerous state and local wetland programs add to the complexity of the protection effort.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33483", "sha1": "c71b2dbcef38cef15f7fc74365466ebb83e144cb", "filename": "files/20170105_RL33483_c71b2dbcef38cef15f7fc74365466ebb83e144cb.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL33483", "sha1": "740bd446f7ec4e3db28c47e468ee392cc2e00b93", "filename": "files/20170105_RL33483_740bd446f7ec4e3db28c47e468ee392cc2e00b93.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4908, "name": "Oceans & Fisheries" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4909, "name": "Water Resource Management" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4928, "name": "Wildlife & Ecosystems" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 435511, "date": "2014-11-03", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T19:58:06.656420", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": "Recent Congresses have considered numerous policy topics that involve wetlands. Many reflect issues of long-standing interest, such as applying federal regulations on private lands, wetland loss rates, and restoration and creation accomplishments. \nThe issue receiving the greatest attention recently has been determining which wetlands should be included and excluded from requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA), especially the Section 404 permit program that regulates waste discharges affecting wetlands, which is administered by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a result of Supreme Court rulings in 2001and 2006 that narrowed federal regulatory jurisdiction over certain isolated wetlands, the jurisdictional reach of the permit program has also been narrowed. In response, legislation intended to reverse the Court\u2019s rulings in these cases has been introduced in Congress but not enacted. In March 2014, EPA and the Army Corps proposed a rule to define the scope of waters protected by the CWA. According to the agencies, the proposed rule would revise the existing administrative definition of \"waters of the United States\" consistent with the Supreme Court\u2019s rulings and consistent with science concerning the interconnectedness of tributaries, wetlands, and other waters and the effects of these connections on the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of downstream waters. The proposal, which could be finalized in 2015, is controversial with groups who contend that it would vastly increase federal assertion of jurisdiction that triggers CWA regulatory requirements.\nWetland protection efforts continue to engender controversy over issues of science and policy. Topics include the rate and pattern of loss, whether all wetlands should be protected in a single fashion, the effectiveness of the current suite of laws in protecting them, and the fact that 75% of remaining U.S. wetlands are located on private lands.\nMany public and private efforts have sought to mitigate damage to wetlands and to protect them through acquisition, restoration, enhancement, and creation, particularly coastal wetlands. While recent data indicate success in some restoration efforts, leading to increases in some types of wetlands in some locations, many scientists question if restored or created wetlands provide equivalent replacement for natural wetlands that contribute multiple environmental services and values.\nOne reason for controversies about wetlands is that they occur in a wide variety of physical forms, and the numerous values they provide, such as wildlife habitat, also vary widely. In addition, the total wetland acreage in the lower 48 states is estimated to have declined from more than 220 million acres three centuries ago to 110.1 million acres in 2009. The national policy goal of no net loss, endorsed by Administrations for the past two decades, had been reached by 2004, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service, as the rate of loss had been more than offset by net gains through expanded restoration efforts authorized in multiple laws. However, more recent data show wetlands losses of nearly 14,000 acres per year. Many protection advocates say that gains do not necessarily account for the changes in quality of the remaining wetlands, and many also view federal protection efforts as inadequate or uncoordinated. Others, who advocate the rights of property owners and development interests, characterize these efforts as too intrusive. Numerous state and local wetland programs add to the complexity of the protection effort.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33483", "sha1": "5e3b48d0bbc76c052b7edd813691dcc2c52286b7", "filename": "files/20141103_RL33483_5e3b48d0bbc76c052b7edd813691dcc2c52286b7.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL33483", "sha1": "c2f2d14aaa2d116cbbe5fe3d8577e1b29ff21955", "filename": "files/20141103_RL33483_c2f2d14aaa2d116cbbe5fe3d8577e1b29ff21955.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 315, "name": "Ocean and Coastal Resources" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 318, "name": "Water Resources Management and Development" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc816135/", "id": "RL33483_2013Dec05", "date": "2013-12-05", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20131205_RL33483_f55700b7bc05706837c09a08bf4a4bb84f212d2c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20131205_RL33483_f55700b7bc05706837c09a08bf4a4bb84f212d2c.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818200/", "id": "RL33483_2010Jul12", "date": "2010-07-12", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100712_RL33483_9261db6e8df0f635ba81240ee10d87fb2542d719.pdf" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc818398/", "id": "RL33483_2008Nov25", "date": "2008-11-25", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20081125_RL33483_233b5b1e40ceac3d8656498c6bf56768cb7ab958.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20081125_RL33483_233b5b1e40ceac3d8656498c6bf56768cb7ab958.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc94041/", "id": "RL33483_2008Jul08", "date": "2008-07-08", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": "The report documents recent changes in wetland acres. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its most recent periodic survey of changes in wetland acreage nationwide in March 2006. Covering 1998 to 2004, it concluded that during this time period there was a small net gain in overall wetland acres for the first time that this survey has been conducted. Others caution, however, that much of this gain was in ponds, rather than natural wetlands.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080708_RL33483_acff152f003de76864789bb3c1e43494ee1acb48.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080708_RL33483_acff152f003de76864789bb3c1e43494ee1acb48.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland conservation", "name": "Wetland conservation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland ecology", "name": "Wetland ecology" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetlands", "name": "Wetlands" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc809397/", "id": "RL33483_2008Jan29", "date": "2008-01-29", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080129_RL33483_3a9870a52372b08e435e37d533b488e785eac95c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080129_RL33483_3a9870a52372b08e435e37d533b488e785eac95c.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc809407/", "id": "RL33483_2007Jul26", "date": "2007-07-26", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070726_RL33483_a5289130bf03f33cfe2fa31fa729c6f2ef7ec00e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070726_RL33483_a5289130bf03f33cfe2fa31fa729c6f2ef7ec00e.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc813071/", "id": "RL33483_2007Jun08", "date": "2007-06-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070608_RL33483_fd62e3f9930b2163dc7c3e92b5bb5d59fb661fc9.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070608_RL33483_fd62e3f9930b2163dc7c3e92b5bb5d59fb661fc9.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822574/", "id": "RL33483_2007Mar13", "date": "2007-03-13", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": "The report documents recent changes in wetland acres. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its most recent periodic survey of changes in wetland acreage nationwide in March 2006. Covering 1998 to 2004, it concluded that during this time period there was a small net gain in overall wetland acres for the first time that this survey has been conducted. Others caution, however, that much of this gain was in ponds, rather than natural wetlands.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20070313_RL33483_36c4348c07b25d17f0b23a7bd3446b01ea311229.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20070313_RL33483_36c4348c07b25d17f0b23a7bd3446b01ea311229.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetlands", "name": "Wetlands" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland ecology", "name": "Wetland ecology" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland conservation", "name": "Wetland conservation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847747/", "id": "RL33483_2006Dec11", "date": "2006-12-11", "retrieved": "2016-06-02T05:26:07", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": "This report discusses policy topics that involve wetlands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its most recent periodic survey of changes in wetland acreage nationwide in March 2006. Covering 1998 to 2004, it concluded that during this time period there was a small net gain in overall wetland acres for the first time that this survey has been conducted. Others caution, however, that much of this gain was in ponds, rather than natural wetlands.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20061211_RL33483_993e922112b1ced27111d31d7ebb50afe052ea81.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20061211_RL33483_993e922112b1ced27111d31d7ebb50afe052ea81.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetlands", "name": "Wetlands" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland ecology", "name": "Wetland ecology" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Wetland conservation", "name": "Wetland conservation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815486/", "id": "RL33483_2006Jun20", "date": "2006-06-20", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Wetlands: An Overview of Issues", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060620_RL33483_0e25b42211bd2bd98327b82e9b5342e03d28423d.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060620_RL33483_0e25b42211bd2bd98327b82e9b5342e03d28423d.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy", "National Defense" ] }