Our Blog

How Multipurpose Mitigation Banks are Credited in FL

Jun22

Changes to multipurpose mitigation banks regulation in Florida: (CESAJ-RD)   On December 21, 2021, the Jacksonville Florida District Corps of Army Engineers (USACE) issued updated information on the establishment of mitigation banks. This guidance called, Guidance for Establishment and Use of Multipurpose Mitigation Banks and In-Lieu Fee Programs in the Jacksonville District (CESAJ-RD), provides regulation for banks that provide ecosystem functions fulfilling the obligations of more than one program or authority at different levels of government. This guidance, directly resulting from the

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RGL 19-01 Update To Mitigation Banking Credit Release Process

Jun22

From performance-based to post-construction: How to alter the mitigation banking credit release process   A mitigation bank needs “financial assurances” prior to being approved. These assurances act as collateral, ensuring that the bank will meet performance standards and offsetting the risk of investing money in a bank before credits are sold.  As credits are released and sold, the sponsor gets their financial assurances back in turn. The Corps has recently reiterated language from  RGL 19-01 that a mitigation bank may get

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SOS for Florida’s wetlands: Time is running out for government action

Jun17

SOS for Florida’s wetlands: Time is running out for government action Will Florida’s wetland regulations return the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting program back to the federal government due to the state’s lack of resources, familiarity, or political will to adequately tackle the more than 5,000 permit applications?   https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/06/11/rescue-wetlands-return-states-permit-program-feds-opinion/7575527001/   “There have been editorials written urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to rescue Florida’s wetlands by returning the Clean Water Act section 404 permitting program to the federal government. They cite the state’s lack of resources, familiarity,

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CFAEP LUNCHEON JUNE 16, 2022

Jun16

Guest Speaker: Keith Fountain Topic: Florida Wildlife Corridor, Land Acquisition, and Conservation Easements   We are working on Conservation initiatives in Florida to sustain our natural resources for future generations The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc. is a proud sponsor of this educational luncheon at Dubsdread County Club in Orlando, Florida. Keith Fountain is an attorney and consultant in land and water conservation that, through a career, which included 20 years at The Nature Conservancy, has been involved in over 4,300 conservation real estate transactions with

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UCF Business Administration Exchange Mentee/Mentor Program

Jun02

UCF Business Administration Exchange Mentee/Mentor Program Victoria recently joined the UCF Business Administration Exchange Mentee/Mentor Program. Victoria met Katherine, who currently works at Disney as a Magic Kingdom Greeter. She wanted to expand her professional portfolio for an Internship in Finance! Within 5 minutes, Victoria encouraged her to apply for a Finance Internship at Disney! And that is exactly, what Katherine did. After 2 interviews, Katherine is now enjoying the Summer Internship at Disney! One conversation with a student could change

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Reedy Creek Mitigation Bank: Federal Credit Release Update

Jun02

Reedy Creek Mitigation Bank: Federal Credit Release Update 207.45 Palustrine Federal credits are now released and available for sale by the Reedy Creek Mitigation Bank to provide compensatory mitigation for impacts to waters of the United States. This is the fourth credit release the Corps has approved for RCMB and first release for Phase III. To date, including this action, the Corps has released a total of 1006.48 Palustrine federal mitigation credits to RCMB. For more information on Reedy Creek Mitigation

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Who Drained The Swamp?

May21

Who Drained the Swamp? Prior to the Section 404 of the CWA; the Federal Government encouraged citizens to drain or destroy wetlands. In 1970, the EPA was established and in 1972, the CWA was passed. The CWA was established to avoid and minimize the impact on designated water bodies and provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts. The Clean Water Act was one of the United States’ first and most influential modern environmental laws. Timeline: • 1988: A national policy of ‘no net loss’ of wetland

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What is a Wetland Mitigation Bank?

May19

What is a Wetland Mitigation Bank? Wetland Mitigation Banks are large-scale ecosystems that are blanketed by a conservation easement. The land will be maintained, monitored and restored back to its natural state and managed in perpetuity. By restoring the land back to its natural state; this will provide a no-net loss to the environment. Restoration activities include: restoring the hydrology, removing invasive species, planting native species, prescribed fires, etc… In exchange for being a good steward to the land, the landowner is awarded

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Purchasing Mitigation Credits

May12

Purchasing Mitigation Credits Depending on which watershed your property is located in will determine which mitigation bank you can purchase credits from. Mitigation Banks are priced differently depending on which watershed you are located in. Pricing ranges from $100,000.00/UMAM Credit to $500,000.00/UMAM Credit. If Mitigation Credits are $200,000.00/UMAM, you can estimate $60,000.00- $160,000.00/acre of direct impact (pricing depends on the quality of the wetland impact). The better quality the wetland, the more mitigation credits that need to be purchased. To find out the

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Federal Wetlands Science, Law, and Compliance Webinar

Apr28

Join us June 3 from 9AM to 5:30PM EST for the Federal Wetlands Science, Law, and Compliance Webinar! In this webinar you’ll be able to: Understand wetland identification, including the presence of wetland vegetation, soils, and underlying hydrology. Discuss federal laws impacting wetlands, including the Clean Water Act and the National Food Security Act of 1985. Determine what wetlands are impacted by the Clean Water Act. Examine cases interpreting federal wetlands law. Explore wetland mitigation banking under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Continuing

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