The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in partnership with other federal agencies announced the release of the updated National Wetland Plant List (NWPL). This national list of wetland plants by species and their wetland ratings provides general botanical information about wetland plants and is used extensively by federal and state agencies, the scientific and academic communities, and the private sector in wetland delineations and the planning and monitoring of wetland mitigation and restoration sites. The list is available at http://wetland_plants.usace.army.mil The Corps says the 1,472 additional plant species increase the National Wetland Plant list by 22 percent.
The 2012 NWPL will be used in any wetland delineations or determinations performed after June 1, 2012. The 2012 NWPL may be used in delineation/determination forms prior to that date, and should be referenced on any data forms used in the wetland delineation/determination if used. The increase in plant species may cause more projects to require permitting under the Clean Water Act (CWA), as Section 404 of the CWA establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. Activities in waters of the United States regulated under this program include fill for development, water resource projects (such as dams and levees), infrastructure development (such as highways and airports) and mining projects. Section 404 requires a permit before dredged or fill material may be discharged into waters of the United States, unless the activity is exempt from Section 404 regulation (e.g. certain farming and forestry activities).
The NWPL announcement is published in the May 9, 2012, Federal Register and is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/05/09/2012-11176/publication-of-the-final-national-wetland-plant-list.
For more information on the USACE Regulatory Program, please visit:
http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits.aspx.
