Improved Permitting Approaches Strategies Identified by the ASWM Wetland Permitting Task Force. Cherie Hagen WI Department of Natural Resources

Transcription

1 Improved Permitting Approaches Strategies Identified by the ASWM Wetland Permitting Task Force Cherie Hagen WI Department of Natural Resources

2 Project Need Strive for effective and efficient state/tribal wetland protection programs. (limited budgets) USEPA s focus on enhancing state and tribal wetland programs. Political Will to Streamline - Help States & Tribes be Proactive

3 Presentation Goals 1. Project Overview & Status Seek Feedback on Approach 2. Recruit additional States and Federal staff to Permitting Task Force. 3. Request States Complete Questionnaire.

4 ASWM Permitting Task Force ASWM - Jeanne Christie & Leah Stetson California Bill Orhm Indiana Liz Pelloso Kansas Debra Baker New Jersey Ginger Kopkash New York Debra Denbro, Tim Post Virginia Elizabeth McKercher & Dave Davis Wisconsin Cherie Hagen Project Funded by USEPA

5 Initial Project Goals Identify Best Practices States Are Using to Improve Wetland Permitting Develop White Paper w/ Case Studies Facilitate Sharing Between States

6 Improved Wetland Permitting? 1. Permit Process is Efficient & Timely 2. Ease of Understanding Permit Process by Applicants and Permit Reviewers. 3. Maintaining or Increasing Wetland Protection

7 Improvement Categories 1. Consolidating Permitting/Certification 2. Communication Before Permitting 3. Online Applications 4. Utilizing Science & Technology 5. Enhancing Data Management 6. Consistency & Program Management 7. Other

8 1- Consolidating Permitting One-stop shopping initiatives: 404 State Assumption (NJ, MI) Programmatic General Permits with Corps (PGP s, RGP s, SPGP s) Joint Permitting Integrated State Permitting Memorandum of Agreements

9 2- Communication Before Permitting Efforts to promote wetland avoidance: Outreach & Education Efforts Basics - Types, Functions/Services, Protection Laws Trainings & Workshops Media Campaigns Got Wetlands? Know Before You Buy or Build Early Wetland Identification & Delineation Review Pre-Application Meetings Avoidance & Minimization Identifying Project Alternatives

10 3 - Online Applications electronic or internet filing of applications Considerations: Partners? Coordination with Corps? Data fields? GIS Components? Funded? Open Source?

11 4 - Utilizing Science & Technology Advances that have direct impact on improving wetland permitting: Mapping Functional Assessments Science-based Webpage's Monitoring & Assessment Watershed Approach Plant Lists Delineation Techniques Training

12 5 - Data Management Includes tracking of: Permits (submitted/approved/denied) Mitigation Compliance Enforcement Complaints Data Sharing (local, state, federal) Compatibility with Corps ORM2 Database Types (Access, Oracle)

13 6 Consistency & Program Management Accountability and consistent program implementation and permit decisions by permit reviewers across the state. Program Policy Staff Guidance Statewide Meetings Regular Communication Minimum Required Staff Training Template Documents Program Reviews

14 Are Improvements Working? Data Can Help Measure Success! WI State Wetland Permit Program Audit DNR Confirms: Wisconsin s Wetland Protection Program Works! It balances landowners needs and protects our state s valuable wetland resources.

15 Applicants Receive Quicker Permit Decisions 200 Total Processing Days for Permit Applications with Wetland Impacts (2001~2006) Total Processing Days Required by Wisconsin State Law

16 Most Applicant Projects Are Approved Approval Rate for Permit Applications with Wetland Impacts (2001~2006) Denied 4.4% Approved 95.6%

17 State Permit Program Significantly Wisconsin Wetland Acres Filled (1991~2006) Decreases Wetland Loss (average) NOTE: Graph represents wetland acres filled for non-transportation projects only. WI Department of Transportation projects average ~ 150 acres of wetland fill annually.

18 Inventory States - Questionnaire What approaches has your state implemented in each of the categories? Identify the top three strategies you feel most improved the permit process in your state? How was permitting improved? (timeliness/protection/understanding) What were the lesson s learned to ensure successful outcome?

19 State Benefits Provides New State Resource - Identifying Best Practices to Improve State Wetland Permitting Promotes State Exchange - Provides state contacts for practices you are interested in exploring. Allows States to Select Most Suitable Approaches - Provides summary of each states wetland permit program.

20 Status Task Force States Prepared Summaries Outlining Improvement Voluntary Questionnaire Sent to ASWM Membership in February Wetland News Finalizing Detailed Questionnaire for State Wetland Program Managers Additional Input Welcome

21 Please Participate in Questionnaire Interested in Joining Task Force? Contact ASWM (Jeanne/Leah) or Cherie Hagen