Decades of Idaho state agency ad-hoc mitigation projects and programs have come to an end as the legislature and governor have passed a new law requiring compliance with 2008 Mitigation Rule and the Clean Water Act. House Bill 207 was recently signed into law to require that activities by state agency personnel and other regulatory authorities provide high-quality mitigation solutions for industry and others requiring offset for unavoidable impacts under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. All forms of mitigation including In-Lieu Fees and Permittee-Responsible Mitigation must meet 12 elements clearly defined by the 2008 Rule establishing equivalent and effective standards for environmental mitigation. >Read More
A newly released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is shining a spotlight on a concern many in the mitigation banking industry have raised for years: inconsistent implementation of the federal compensatory mitigation program across U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Corps requires compensatory mitigation
Read MoreFor too long, environmental policy debates have been framed around a false and unproductive premise: that economic growth and environmental protection are inherently at odds. This mindset is not only outdated—it is actively harmful to both outcomes. Mitigation banking offers a clear path forward. By design, it aligns economic incentives with ecological restoration, proving
Read More