Join MBG, Inc. in a discussion on “Wetland & Species Mitigation Banking” @ 4:00 PM EST: April 22, 2021 Hosted by Ecological Services and Markets, Inc. This webinar will include information on the administrative and policy barriers, strategies of credit sales, best practices for credit ledgers, sales contracts, integration with RIBITS, and matching project impacts with banks & credits. RSVP HERE
Join Us on This Upcoming Webinar to Discuss The Future of Wetland Mitigation Banking March 17th, 2021, 12:30 – 1:30 pm ET In this webinar, we will dive into the current state of affairs around wetland mitigation banking and respective policy with bankers, consultants, and policymakers. We will also introduce how some bankers, regulators, and consultants are leveraging technology to reduce risk and increase resiliency in due diligence planning, bank design, implementation, and monitoring. Moderators: Jeremy Schewe PWS, Chief Scientific Officer, Ecobot
A UF student who is studying ecological restoration contacted MBG for more information on the Environmental Restoration Industry. Victoria put her in touch with John Lesman, Bio-Tech Consulting, Inc to discuss the ins and outs of the environmental industry. Lesman says, “We need more people in the mitigation field (especially mitigation banking). It is a growing industry and there is a vacuum when it comes to skilled manpower (monitoring, permitting, etc.). It is a very challenging field and there are many
MBG, Inc. is a proud sponsor of the February CFAEP Webinar Join The Central Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and Eric Olsen Olsen, Attorney, Hopping Green & Sams as he discusses: FDEP Assumption of Section 404 Wetland Permitting as well as the Navigable Water Protection Rule (New WOTUS Rule) All environmental professionals from across Central Florida are welcome! Thursday, February 18th, 2021 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Many environmental consultants in Florida and throughout the U.S. are working on fixing broken swamps to create wetland mitigation banks. There are approx. 120 mitigation banks in the state of Florida, which are approved at the State and Federal Level. In the 1950s, landowners ditched and drained their swamps because the USACOE was not aware of wetlands critical importance to our environment. Since then, Mitigation banks were established as restoration projects – where we bring the land back to its
Earthjustice has filed suit in federal court to undo a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that has handed Florida officials primary regulatory authority over the state’s wetlands. Earthjustice filed the suit on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Florida Wildlife Federation, Miami Waterkeeper and St. Johns Riverkeeper. Stay Tuned! Read More Here: https://news.yahoo.com/groups-sue-federal-epa-rescind-183010601.html
2021 WETLANDS MITIGATION BANKING LATEST UPDATES – January 13th, 2021 Numerous changes this year are affecting the mitigation banking industry in both bank development and credit sales. Don’t miss these important updates! Prospective and current mitigation bankers and users of mitigation bank credits need to understand these changes to ensure compliance as well as efficient and timely permit processing and to understand credit demand. Updates will be provided on the effect of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and changes in
Two major Mitigation Policy Changes occurred in 2020 for the Wetland Mitigation Banking Industry: 1) The New Navigable Waters Protection Rule. On April 21, 2020; the new rule was approved to define “WOTUS” which limits the Extent of Federal Regulation for Wetlands. Therefore, less Federal Mitigation will be Needed for Projects that have Wetland Impacts. The new policy removes isolated wetlands from jurisdiction from the CWA Section 404. We are hopeful that this new policy will provide Clarity & Less Time spent
The Federal Government has granted Florida’s request for wider authority over wetlands under the Clean Water Act. Florida becomes one of a handful of states with broader permitting authority of wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act. Michigan and New Jersey had been granted similar authority decades ago. Florida’s request to gain sole permitting authority was launched under the administration of Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator, who said the EPA’s action does away with “duplicative rules on the state and federal levels”
2020 Holiday Message
This year has been like no other in our lifetime. 2020 has been tough and challenging, but the holiday season gives us all hope for the future! Here is to a fantastic end to 2020 and a prosperous 2021 to you, your families and your businesses.
I wish you a very safe and Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring good health, happiness and good fortune. A blessed festive season to all!
Victoria K. Bruce
The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc.
