The U.S. House of Representatives announced approval yesterday of H.R. 7776, bipartisan legislation for water resources infrastructure funding throughout the United States.
H.R. 7776, the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA), authorizes water resources infrastructure projects carried out by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).
This year’s Act, among other items, directs the “Comptroller General of the United States to conduct, and submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, a report on the results of a study on performance metrics for, compliance with, and adequacy in addressing project impacts of, potential mechanisms for fulfilling compensatory mitigation obligations pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.”
The study and report will focus on mitigation activities and their success in replacing lost or adversely affected habitats over different time periods from five to fifty years.
Here are a some specifics for the reporting requirements:
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will deliver a report to the committees within 18 months of the Act.
“A comprehensive study of compensatory mitigation, especially the timeliness of processing approval documents for mitigation banks, is long overdue. We applaud the House for its bipartisan decision to commission this study and encourage the Senate to follow suit.”
Chair of the National Environmental Banking Association (NEBA). “
Mitigation banking is often discussed in terms of credits—wetland credits, stream credits, or other units used to compensate for unavoidable environmental impacts. But the value of a mitigation bank extends far beyond the regulatory credit itself. Well-designed mitigation banks can provide a broad range of ecosystem services that benefit watersheds, wildlife, communities, and taxpayers.Cleaner Water •
Read MoreThe National Environmental Banking Association is proud to honor this year’s award recipients—leaders who exemplify innovation, integrity, and excellence in advancing mitigation banking and ecological restoration. These individuals and organizations are setting new standards for environmental outcomes, strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors, and inspiring the next generation of restoration professionals.2026 Award WinnersAward for
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