Improving State/Federal Cooperation
Through Improved Partnerships
Under the Clean Water Act
and the
2002 Farm Bill

March 24, 2004

Hall of States
444 North Capitol Street, Room 333
Washington, D.C.

Workshop Directors:  Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers; Jon Kusler, Associate Director, Association of State Wetland Managers

Host Organizations:

Association of State Wetland Managers

International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Sponsors:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Goals of the Workshop:

¨	Provide Updates on State and Federal Agency Policies, Regulations, and Other Activities
¨	Improve Cooperation in Federal/State Wetland Efforts
¨	Discuss/Compare State-based Solutions to Program and Policy Implementation
¨	Analyze Court Decisions Effecting Wetlands
¨	Compare Federal and State Compensatory Mitigation Policies
¨	Discuss Federal Funding for Implementation of State Wetland Programs
¨	Identify Opportunities for State/Federal Cooperation under the 2002 Farm Bill
¨	Identify Future Challenges for State and Federal Programs

 

 

 

 

Pre-workshop Format:  The workshop will be one day in length and precedes the Workshop on “Developing Outcome Based Wetland Protection and Restoration Programs: Monitoring and Measuring Success”.  It will include both presentations and discussion.  This one-day workshop will address important areas of state/federal cooperation including: changes in CWA jurisdiction, progress implementing the National Mitigation Action Plan, analysis of recent court decisions, using the EPA State Wetland Grant program to fund program implementation, opportunities for increased state participation implementing Farm Bill programs as Technical Service Providers, tailoring Farm Bill programs to address state wetland and water quality issues, and other topics.

Everyone attending the Outcome-based workshop on March 25-26 is invited to this pre-meeting. Please indicate on the registration form if you are interested in attending this pre-meeting.

Draft Agenda, Wednesday, March 24, 2004.

8:00a.m.-8:30a.m.  Registration and Coffee 

8:30a.m.-8:45a.m.  Welcome and Overview of Workshop Goals

8:45a.m.-9:30a.m.  Introductions by Workshop Participants: one minute introduction from each participant: name, affiliation, important issues/questions to address during the workshop. 

9:30a.m.-10:45a.m.  Federal Update on Wetland Regulations. Moderator:  Jeanne Christie, Association of State Wetland Managers; Speakers: John Goodin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Kirk Stark, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

¨		National Mitigation Action Plan-Status of District Mitigation Monitoring and Performance Standards. In Kind/Out of Kind, On site/Off Site Guidance, Stream Assessment Techniques Database, Difficult to Replace, Buffers and Preservation Assessment Policies
¨		Other Issues Associated With Federal Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
¨		GAO Report on Jurisdictional Determinations
¨		Clean Water Act Jurisdiction-Tools for Improving Consistency

 

 

 

 

10:45a.m.-11:15a.m.  Break 

11:15a.m.-12:30p.m.  Legal Issues: Wetlands and the Courts. Moderator: TBD; Speakers: Stephen Samuels, U.S. Department of Justice; Jon Kusler, Association of State Wetland Managers

¨		DOJ Position on Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Appeals to Supreme Court
¨		Miccosukee Tribe v. SFWMD
¨		State and Local Wetland Regulations in the Courts

12:30p.m.-1:30p.m. Lunch (served in the meeting room). Discussion on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Priorities including Water Programs and Importance of Wetlands Initiatives. Diane Regas, Director, Office of Oceans, Wetlands, and Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1:30p.m.-2:00p.m. Funding Implementation of State Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Programs Moderator: Connie Cahanap, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division

¨		EPA ‘s State Wetland Program Regulatory Initiative, Lori Williams, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division
¨		EPA’s State Wetland Program Non-Regulatory Program, Lynda Saul, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetlands Division

2:00p.m.- 3:30p.m.  2002 Farm Bill. Moderator: Moderator: Jeanne Christie, Association of State Wetland Managers

¨		Establishing a Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program under the Wetland Reserve Program. Leslie Deavers, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
¨		Understanding the Third Party Technical Assistance and Opportunities to State Participation through the 2002 Farm Bill. Ron Marlow, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

 

 
3:30p.m.-4:00p.m.  Break

4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.  Reinventing the National Wetlands Inventory. P. Scott Hausmann, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Registration Fee:  The registration fees include a box lunch on Wednesday, March 24, Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26 and a reception on Thursday, March 25. ASWM members: One day fee: $30; Two day fee: $60; and Three day fee: $90. ASWM nonmembers: One day fee: $40; Two day fee: $70; and Three day fee: $100. Please click here for registration form (pdf format).

Travel:  All speakers and participants are responsible for their own travel and hotel reservations.

Hotel:  A block of rooms have been reserved at the Hotel George, 15 E Street, NW, Washington, D.C. at the government rate of $150 plus tax single occupancy until February 23, 2004. Please call 202-347-4200 or e-mail rooms@hotelgoeorge.com and identify that you are reserving a room as part of ASWM group number 5802.   Additional hotel and transportation information is available at http://www.aswm.org/swp/state2004/hotel.htm.

Contact Information:  Agenda: Jeanne Christie, Association of State Wetland Managers, (207) 892-3399; for logistical information contact: P.O. Box 269, Berne, NY 12023; (518) 872-1804, Fax: (518) 82-2171, aswm@aswm.org; www.aswm.org.