Fundamentals of the Wetland Protection Act: Process & Procedures
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Transcript of Fundamentals of the Wetland Protection Act: Process & Procedures
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Fundamentals of the Wetland Protection Act:
Process & Procedures
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Creation of this Unit was funded in part with a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust
Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners
Training Program UNIT 3
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Wetland Values:Eight Interests of the Act
1 Private & Public Water Supply2 Ground Water Protection3 Pollution Prevention4 Flood Prevention5 Storm Damage Protection6 Land Containing Shellfish7 Fisheries8 Wildlife Habitat
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Provisions for Protection of Landowner Rights
• Clear Statement of Jurisdiction
• Timetables• Performance Standards• Limit Projects Status• Provisions for Appeal
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Exempt Activities
• Bonded Bridge Repair Projects• Active Agriculture (maintenance or
improvement)– Farming– Cranberries– Forest Products
• Active Aquaculture (maintenance or improvement)
• Approved Mosquito Control• Existing Utilities• Minor Projects
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Jurisdiction
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Jurisdiction: Activities
ACTIVITIES subject to regulation under the Act are Activities that will:
Remove, Fill, Dredge, or Alter a Resource Area
(A)Activities within Resource Areas
•That will remove, fill, or alter the resource area are subject to regulation
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Jurisdiction: Activities (cont.)
(B)Activities within Buffer Zones
•That will remove, fill, and dredge or alter a resource area are subject to regulation
•That will alter the buffer zone but not remove, fill, or dredge or alter a resource area are NOT subject to regulation but may require review or conditions to make this determination
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Jurisdiction: Activities (cont.)
(C)Activities Outside Resource Areas and Buffer Zones
•Are NOT subject to regulation unless and until the activity actually alters a resource area
•Exception: activities that result in a point source discharge within a resource area or a buffer zone may be reviewed in order to condition the discharge
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Jurisdiction
I. AREAS subject to Protection Under the Act [310 CMR 10.02(1)]
(A) Any BANK The OCEAN
Any FRESHWATER WETLAND Any ESTUARY
Any COASTAL WETLAND Any CREEK
Any BEACH Any RIVER
Any DUNE BORDERING Any STREAM
Any FLAT ON Any POND
Any MARSH Any LAKE
Or Any SWAMP
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Jurisdiction (cont’d)
(B) LAND UNDER ANY OF THE WATER BODIES LISTED ABOVE
(C) LAND SUBJECT TO TIDAL ACTION
(D) LAND SUBJECT TO COSTAL STORM FLOWAGE
(E) LAND SUBJECT TO FLOODING
AND
(F) RIVERFRONT AREAS
II. BUFFER ZONE= Land within 100 feet horizontally of any area listed in (A) above [310 CMR 10.9(2)]
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Inland Resource Areas
• Land Under Water (LUW)• Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW)• Banks• Land Subject to Flooding
– Bordering (BLSF)– Isolated (ILSF)
• Riverfront Area
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Coastal Resource Areas• Salt Marsh• Land Under Salt Ponds• Land Under Ocean• Rocky Intertidal Shores• Coastal Beaches(& tidal flats)• Coastal Banks• Coastal Dunes• Barrier beaches• Land Containing Shellfish• Anadromous/Catadromous Fish Runs (DMF)• Designated Port Areas (DEP)• Riverfront Areas
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Buffer Zones Apply To:
• Inland– Banks– BVWs
• Coastal– Banks– Beaches– Dunes– Salt Marshes
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The Regulatory Process
Is the project within the jurisdiction?
Site Visit
Public Meeting
Request for Determination
Determination of Applicability
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The Regulatory Process
Site Visit
Identification of resource areas
Public Hearing
Presumptions of Significance
Should the project be considered a “Limited Project”?
Performance Standards
Notice of Intent or
Notice of Resource Area Delineation
Orders of Conditions
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The Regulatory Process
Certificate of Compliance
Request of Certificate of Compliance
Public Meeting
Site VisitCertificate of Compliance
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Determination of Applicability
Form 1: Request for Determination
Site Visit
Public Meeting
Subject to Jurisdiction?
NO (negative) YES
Alter Resource Area?
NO (negative) YES
Notice of Intent
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Notice of Resource Area Delineation
• Resource areas can be delineated using this form or the Notice of Intent
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Notice of Intent and Order of Conditions
Form 3 or 4
Notice of Intent
Public Hearing
Notice
5
21
21
Days
Days
Form 3 or 4, Notice of Intent
Public Hearing
Notice
Review Presumptions of
Significance
Review Performance
Standards
Review Mitigation Plan for Limited
Projects
Form 5 Order of Conditions
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Notice of Intent• Minimal Submittal Requirements
– Form 3– Plans, Calculations, etc.(1”=50’)– Title 5 Plans (demonstrating compliance with
410 CMR 15.00)– Correct Fee
• Other Requirements– Other permits (zoning variances, Board of
Appeals, floodplain or wetlands zoning, gravel removal)
– Professional assessments as required
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Presumption of Significant Inland Wetlands
Bordering Vegetated Wetlands
Banks
•Impervious cover
Land Under Water
•Impervious cover
Land Subject to Flooding
•Bordering: within 100’ or 10 year floodplain
•Isolated:
•Pervious cover
•Organic cover
•Vernal Pool
Riverfront Area
Water Supply
Groundwater Flood Control
Storm Damage Control
Pollution Control
Fisheries Shellfish Wildlife Habitat
X X X XX
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Presumptions of Significance Coastal
Wetlands
Salt Marshes
Land Under Salt Ponds
Land Under Ocean
Rocky Intertidal Shores
Coastal beaches(& Flats)
Coastal Banks
Coastal Dunes
Barrier Beaches
Land Containing Shellfish
Anadromous/Catadromous Fish Runs
Designated Port Areas (Land Under Ocean)
Riverfront Areas
Water Supply
Groundwater Flood Control
Storm Damage Control
Pollution Control
Fisheries Shellfish Wildlife Habitat
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Work Standards• Activities within Resource Areas
Must meet Performance Standards, unless:
– activity is exempt– Presumptions of Significance are
overcome– activity is a Limited Project, or– variance granted by the
Commissioner of DEP
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Work Standards (cont’d)
• Activities within Buffer Zones– conditions shall be imposed to protect the
statutory interests supported by the adjacent resource areas
– no specific performance standards for buffer
zones except on Simplified Review projects
Point Source Discharges– should comply with DEP guidance for stormwater discharges– must not adversely impact ability of resource areas to contribute to the 8 interests of the Act
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Stormwater Management Policy
Approach (Regulatory Responsibility)– Existing discharges-state Clean Waters Act– New development- Wetlands Protection Act
Applicability (as of Jan.2, 2008 – now by regulation)All projects except:– Single family house projects– Small subdivisions (depends on proximity to
critical areas)
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Limited Projects (Examples)• New Agriculture (i.e. conversion)• Permanent forestry access roads• New public utilities• New roadway or driveway(if no reasonable alternative
exists)• Maintenance of beaches, boat launching ramps existing
prior to 4/1/83• Maintenance of structures existing (4/1/83)• Maintenance of road drainage• Widening of an existing public roadway• Wildlife impoundments• Lake drawdown for dam repair• Public water supply wells• Water-dependent uses
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Work Standards for Limited Projects
• Strict adherence to performance standards for resource areas is not required.
• Limited Project must avoid and minimize impacts to resources and the eight interests of the Act.
• Orders of Conditions should contribute to the protection of the eight interests of the Act.
• Adverse impacts to rare species habitat are prohibited
• Limited Projects may be denied if:– impacts will be too large, or– sensitive areas will be affected (i.e. ACEC or
water supply)
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Minor Project Exemptions
• Certain projects in Buffer Zones– Unpaved private walkways– Fencing (if not barrier to wildlife), stone
walls, cordwood stacks– Vista pruning– Planting native plants– Conversion of lawn > 50 ft from resource to
accessory uses e.g. decks, sheds, pools– Conversion from impervious to vegetated
surfaces– Temporary exploratory work for planning
and design, if negligible impacts
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Orders of Conditions
• Are Used to Permit or Deny Proposed Activities
• Establish Conditions for Work• Must Ensure that Performance
Standards are Met, or• Conditions should be Applied to
Minimize Impacts for Limited Projects
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Appeals
Who May Appeal:• Applicant• Owner• Abutter• Aggrieved Party• 10 Local Citizens• DEP
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Certificate of Compliance
• Requested by the Applicant after work has been completed
• Issued or denied by the Conservation Commission(or DEP for superseding Orders of Conditions)
• Indicates work has been completed in compliance with an Order of Conditions
• May contain conditions, such as for on-going maintenance or monitoring
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Enforcement Options
• Notice of a violation• Enforcement Order• Civil action• Criminal action
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Relationship to Federal Regulations
• For small wetland alternatives, an Order of Conditions serves as a federal s.404 permit
• DEP regional offices review projects (NOIs) for compliance with state water quality standards (as per s.401 of the Clean Water Act)
• Federal regulations have jurisdiction over some isolated wetlands (SWANCC)
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Wildlife Habitat
Protection for Physical and Biological Factors Providing:
• Food• Shelter• Breeding areas• Over-wintering areas• Migration areas and travel
corridors
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Protection for Wildlife Habitat
• Protection for important habitat• Special protection for rare species 310 CMR 10.37 & 10.59
• Protection for vernal pool habitat310 CMR 10.57
• Thresholds and wildlife habitat evaluations310 CMR 10.60; Wetlands Policy 88-2; Wildlife Advisory #2; DEP’s MA Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guidance, issued March 2006
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Protection for Rare SpeciesProject Area on estimated habitat map?
NO (Proceed) YES
Submit Appendix A
Actual Habitat?
NO (Proceed) YES
NO (Proceed)
YES
DENIAL
Any Short Term or Long Term Effects?
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Protection for Rare SpeciesProject Area on estimated habitat map?
NO (Proceed) YES
Submit NOI to NHESP
Actual Habitat?
NO (Proceed) YES
NO (Proceed)
YES
DENIAL
Any Short Term or Long Term Effects?
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What can happen as a result of working together
• Added effectiveness
• Cooperation and achievement of goals
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What is essential to be effective?
Public Support
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MACC is Here to Help
• Environmental Handbook for Massachusetts Conservation Commissioners
• MACC Newsletters published bimonthly
• MACC Website: maccweb.org• MACC Helpline: (617) 489-3930