(1) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the availability of all types of compensatory mitigation projects in the state of Idaho, consistent with the provisions of section 404 of the federal clean water act and the regulations promulgated pursuant to it, for the development of projects with unavoidable impacts to wetlands.
(2)  In 2008, the United States army corps of engineers and the environmental protection agency issued revised regulations governing compensatory mitigation for impacts to wetlands under section 404 of the federal clean water act, which are contained at 33 C.F.R. § part parts 325 and 332 and 40 C.F.R. part 230 and referred to as the 2008 compensatory mitigation for losses of aquatic resources rule. These regulations establish equivalent and effective standards for all three (3) types of compensatory mitigation projects: mitigation banks, in-lieu fee mitigation, and permittee-responsible mitigation.

Terms Used In Idaho Code 67-9501

  • Compensatory mitigation: means the restoration, re-establishment or rehabilitation, establishment or creation, enhancement, and in certain circumstances preservation of aquatic resources for the purpose of offsetting unavoidable adverse impacts that remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization have been achieved. See Idaho Code 67-9502
  • impacts: means adverse effects. See Idaho Code 67-9502
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories; and the words "United States" may include the District of Columbia and territories. See Idaho Code 73-114
(3)  State agencies may review or permit activities associated with applications for United States army corps of engineers section 404 permits and the corps’ determinations regarding compensatory mitigation under the mitigation rule.