Golden Gate University School of Law GGU Law Digital Commons California Agencies California Documents 2-2002 The .SU . Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands: Implications of the SWANCC Decision California Research Bureau Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/caldocs_agencies Part of the Environmental Law Commons Recommended Citation California Research Bureau, "The .SU . Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands: Implications of the SWANCC Decision" (2002). California Agencies. Paper 305. http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/caldocs_agencies/305 This Cal State Document is brought to you for free and open access by the California Documents at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in California Agencies by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The U.S. Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands: Implications of the SWANCC Decision STATE DEPOSITORY CALIFORNIA LAW LIBRARY By Jennifer Ruffolo STATE LIBRARY F OUNDED 1850 AUG 1 S 2007 California Research Bureau GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY 900 N Street, Suite 300 Prepared at the request of P.O. Box 942837 Senator Sheila Kuehl Sacramento, CA 94237 -O!lU1 (916) 653-7843 phone Chair, Senate Natural Resources (916) 654-5829 fax and Wildlife Committee FEBRUARY 2002 NON-CIRCULATING CRB 02-003 KFC e 22 .L960 C W4B F () R I A R E s A R H B R E A U 2002 The U.S. Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands: Implications of the SWANCC Decision By Jennifer Ruffolo Prepared at the request of Senator Sheila Kuehl Chair, Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee FROM ISBN l-58703-150-7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 3 CHAPTER ONE: WHAT ARE WETLANDS? ........................................................................................ 7 OVERVIEW OF WETLANDS .......................................................................................................................... 7 A General Description of Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 7 Wetlands Definitions and Classificaticm .. ............................................................................ 9 Wetlands Functions and Values .......................................................................................................... 10 Activities that Destroy Wetlands ......................................................................................................... 12 WETLANDS IN CALIFORNIA ...................................................................................................................... 13 Isolated Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 14 Vernal Pools ........................................................................................................................................ 14 WETLANDS LOSSES IN CALIFORNIA .......................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO: FEDERAL REGULATION OF WETLANDS ....................................................... 31 FROM NAVIGABLE WATERS TO WETLANDS ............................................................................................. 31 The Rivers and Harbors Act................................................................................................................ 32 The Clean Water Act Expands the Corps' Jurisdiction Over Wetlands .............................................. 32 THE 404 PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................... 38 Defining Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 39 Delineating Wetlands .......................................................................................................................... 40 Section 404(b)(l) Guidelines .............................................................................................................. 41 40 I Certification ................................................................................................................................. 42 Coordination with Endangered Species Act Requirements ................................................................. 43 OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY ROLES IN WETLANDS MANAGEMENT ............................................................. 44 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 404 PROGRAM .................................................................................................... 45 Program Administration ..................................................................................................................... 45 Progress on "No Net Loss" ................................................................................................................ 46 Effectiveness ofCompensatory Mitigation .......................................................................................... 47 EFFECT ON CALIFORNIA'S WETLANDS ..................................................................................................... 48 Corps Permits in California ................................................................................................................ 49 404 and San Diego Vernal Pools ........................................................................................................ 50 Farmland Exemptions ......................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER THREE: THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S OPINION IN SWANCC .............................. 53 THE MAJORlTY OPINION ........................................................................................................................... 54 Interstate Commerce and Navigable Waters ....................................................................................... 55 Congressional Intent ........................................................................................................................... 55 Congressional Powers and States Rights ............................................................................................ 55 THE DISSENTING OPINION ........................................................................................................................ 56 NATIONAL IMPACTS OF SWANCC ........................................................................................................... 58 A Range ofInterpretations .................................................................................................................. 59 The Army Corps and EPA's Response ................................................................................................ 59 The Limits ofFederal Environmental Regulation ............................................................................... 60 CHAPTER FOUR: THE DEBATE OVER THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE AFTER SWANCC ······································································································································································ 63 INTERSTATE COMMERCE CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................. 63 NAVIGABLE WATERS CONNECTIONS ........................................................................................................ 64 Corps' Definition ofNavigable Waters ............................................................................................... 65 Tributaries to Navigable Waters ......................................................................................................... 66 Wetlands Adjacent to Navigable Waters ............................................................................................. 67 CHAPTER FIVE: BEYOND COMMERCE: CALIFORNIA'S REGULATION OF WETLANDS. 69 KEENE-NEJEDLYCALIFORNIA WETLANDS PRESERVATION ACT .............................................................. 69 1993 WETLANDS CONSERVATION POLICY ............................................................................................... 70 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STATUTES ........................................................................... 71 CHAPTER SIX: THE IMPACT OF SW ANCC ON CALIFORNIA'S WETLANDS ........................ 81 WHAT'S IN AND WHAT'S OUT OF 404 JuRISDICTION? .............................................................................. 81 Vernal Pools and Ponds ...................................................................................................................... 8I Isolated Wetlands and Intermittent and Interrupted Streams ............................................................. 86 Managed Wetlands .............................................................................................................................. 93 Desert Springs and Playas .................................................................................................................. 95 Diked Wetlands and Salt Ponds .........................................................................................................