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Department of Ecology News Release - December 4, 2008
08-317
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on a proposal to certify the construction and operation of a privately owned, 160-acre wetland mitigation bank in Vancouver, Wash.
The public comment period for the proposed Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank is Dec. 4, 2008, through Jan. 5, 2009.
Clark County Mitigation Partners, the company seeking to build and operate the bank, would permanently protect the property through a conservation easement. The firm would create new wetlands and enhance existing forest and upland habitat areas at the site.
Wetland banks are an important strategy for engaging the private sector and power of the market place to sustain Washington's remaining wetlands.
If approved, the Columbia River wetland bank's credits could be purchased for building projects in the lower Columbia River basin in Washington. The area includes portions of Clark and Cowlitz counties as well as a small area in Skamania County.
The availability of wetland credits, however, doesn't eliminate state and federal regulations requiring developers to avoid and minimize wetland damage.
State and federal laws prohibit the loss of wetlands due to development. A wetland bank is a pre-existing wetland restoration project. The Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank would offer credits – subject to regulatory approval – to developers required to offset wetland losses that cannot be avoided. The credits represent the increase in wetland functions at the bank site.
The address for the proposed Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank is 3210 N.W. Lower River Road, Vancouver. The bank would be regulated by Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other regulatory entities within the service area of the bank.
Comments can be e-mailed or sent to Ecology Wetland Mitigation Bank coordinator Kate Thompson by close of business Monday, Jan. 5, 2009:
Kate Thompson Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program Washington Department of Ecology PO Box 47600 Olympia, Washington 98504-7600 kath461@ecy.wa.gov
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Media Contact: Curt Hart, 360-407-6990; cell, 360-480-7908 (char461@ecy.wa.gov)
Detailed description of proposed Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank project: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/mitigation/banking/public-notices.html
For more information: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/mitigation/banking/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
