Section 281.952. Purpose.

(1) The purpose of the wetland mitigation banking rules is to provide for the statewide establishment and operation of mitigation banks as an alternative wetland mitigation option that will protect and enhance the wetland resources of the state while expediting the regulatory process.

(2)   Mitigation banking may benefit the state's wetland resources as follows:

(a)   By providing for the establishment of replacement wetlands in advance of wetland losses.

(b)   By consolidating small wetland mitigation areas at a single location in a manner that enhances the integrity of the wetland ecosystem.

(c)   By providing for improved design of  mitigation   sites  through  more efficient use of technical resources.

(d)  By providing for and encouraging the integration of wetland creation or restoration for purposes of compensatory mitigation with watershed, ecoregion, or community resource planning.

(3)   The use of mitigation banking may benefit a wetland permit applicant as follows:

(a)  By reducing the total permit processing time.

(b)    By reducing the cost of compensatory mitigation due to the economy of scale associated with the consolidation of individual mitigation projects.

(c)   By increasing the predictability of mitigation costs.

(d)  By providing increased certainty as to the availability of wetland mitigation sites.

(e)   By facilitating compliance with the mitigation requirements of the act.

History: 1997 AACS.