Concise Explanatory Statement and Responsiveness Summary for the Adoption of Chapter 173-700 WAC, Wetland Mitigation Banks. As Required by the Washington State Administrative Procedures Act Chapter 34.05 RCW

摘要

Ecology is adopting these rules under the authority granted in RCW 90.84 Wetlands Mitigation Banking passed by the State Legislature during the 1998 session. These rules are necessary in order to fulfill the requirements set in these statutes and successfully implement the new law. Due to the low success rate of compensatory mitigation; the Washington State Legislature initiated a review of the implementation of wetland protection rules during their 1998 session. As a result, state lawmakers adopted RCW 90.84, Wetlands Mitigation Banking. The law expressed the Legislatures support of banking as an important option for providing compensatory mitigation. The law affirms the states authority to regulate banking. The law set minimum guidelines for establishing banks and directed Ecology to develop a statewide wetland mitigation banking certification rule.