MBG

Executive Order Threatens Core Environmental Regulations: Implications for Mitigation Banking

Apr16

Executive Order on Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting Puts Mitigation Banking at Risk On the heels of the recently issued Executive Order on Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting, serious concerns are emerging across the environmental and mitigation banking communities. This sweeping directive mandates that federal agencies—including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Environmental Protection Agency—must assign expiration dates to nearly all environmental regulations unless re-justified and formally extended. What’s at Stake? The Order threatens the very legal

Read more

Florida Legislature Advances SB 492/HB 1175: Proposed Updates to Mitigation Banking Regulations

Apr12

Florida Legislature Advances SB 492/HB 1175: Proposed Updates to Mitigation Banking Regulations UPDATE: As of April 11, 2025, SB 492 and HB 1175 have passed key committees and continue to move through the legislative process in the Florida Legislature. These proposed bills would introduce significant changes to Florida’s mitigation banking framework, including standardized credit release schedules and expanded flexibility in using out-of-service-area credits. If passed and signed into law, these updates aim to streamline credit availability while maintaining environmental standards—particularly

Read more

Florida’s Section 404 Permitting Under Legal Scrutiny: What It Means for Mitigation Banking

Apr10

Defining WOTUS: “Continuous Surface Connection” Informational Listening Sessions: The EPA and USACE will gather information from the public via Listening Sessions. Topics on which EPA will request input include: Scope of ‘relatively permanent’ waters Scope of ‘continuous surface connection’ What it means to ‘abut’ a jurisdictional water Temporary interruptions in surface connection (as referenced in the Sackett decision) Scope of jurisdictional ditches Registration instructions and dates will be forthcoming at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/…/public-outreach-and-stakeholder…. Listening Session for Environmental and Conservation Stakeholders: May 1, 2025 from 1:00 –

Read more

How UMAM Wetland Assessments Drive Mitigation Credit Sales in Florida

Mar26

How Florida’s UMAM Assessment Streamlines Mitigation Banking and Credit Sales At The Mitigation Banking Group, we specialize in helping landowners and developers navigate Florida’s complex wetland mitigation process. A critical tool in this process is the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) — the state’s standardized approach to evaluating wetland impacts and calculating mitigation needs. UMAM provides a consistent scoring system that assesses wetland function loss from development and determines the number of mitigation credits required to offset those impacts. This ensures that every project complies with Florida’s “no-net-loss

Read more

SB 118: Florida’s Rural Boundary Bill Could Accelerate Development and Threaten Conservation Goals

Mar15

Understanding SB 1118: What Florida’s Rural Boundary Bill Means for Conservation and Mitigation Banking As a wetland mitigation banking specialist, I work closely with landowners, developers, and regulatory agencies to help strike a balance between growth and environmental preservation. That’s why I’ve been closely monitoring Senate Bill 1118 (SB 1118)—Florida’s proposed Rural Boundary Bill, which could have significant implications for mitigation banking, conservation efforts, and infrastructure planning across the state. This legislation, introduced in early 2025, seeks to ease development

Read more

Common Misconceptions About Building on a Wetland

Mar13

Clearing the Confusion: Common Misconceptions About Building on a Wetland As the CEO of The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc., I frequently speak with landowners, developers, and consultants who have questions about building on a wetland. With over 25 Mitigation Banks and Conservation Banks across the state of Florida, we work closely with regulatory agencies and clients to ensure projects are both environmentally responsible and fully compliant. Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions about building on a wetland and provide the facts

Read more

Speaking at UF’s 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference

Mar12

Navigating Wetland Permitting: My Reflections from the 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to speak at the 2025 Public Interest Environmental Conference hosted by the University of Florida Levin College of Law. As a panelist following the keynote speaker, I joined two highly respected environmental attorneys to discuss pressing topics affecting our industry—including the evolving definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the impacts of Section 404 Assumption. As someone who started in

Read more

Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs): A New Tool for Florida’s Water Quality Goals

Mar12

Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs): Supporting Florida’s Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) As Florida continues to prioritize environmental preservation and water quality, innovative regulatory tools like Water Quality Enhancement Areas (WQEAs) are becoming a vital part of statewide restoration efforts. Implemented in 2022 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), WQEAs provide a new mechanism for regional water quality treatment that addresses nutrient pollution and helps achieve compliance within Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). We’re closely following the development and expansion

Read more

Is Your Property Suitable for a Wetland Mitigation Bank?

Feb27

Evaluating Your Property for a Wetland Mitigation Bank If you’re a landowner wondering whether your property could qualify as a wetland mitigation bank, there are several important factors to consider. A qualified mitigation banking specialist will evaluate your land using historical and current aerial imagery to determine its restoration potential. While every site is unique, the most critical factors include: Size – Is the property large enough to support meaningful ecological restoration? Location – Does it fall within a watershed where mitigation credits

Read more

Stormwater Protection in Winter Springs

Feb24

Stormwater Protection in Winter Springs At The Mitigation Banking Group, we’ve always been committed to protecting Florida’s natural resources. Now, I’m bringing that same passion and expertise to stormwater protection efforts in Winter Springs. As a city commissioner and a long-time advocate for water conservation, I’m proud to lead initiatives that keep our waterways clean, reduce pollution, and educate the community on stormwater management. Why Stormwater Protection Matters Stormwater runoff is one of the biggest threats to our lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Every

Read more