The In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Training Webinar Series is designed to help states, tribes, and local governments; conservation organizations; and other interested groups develop or refine rigorous in-lieu-fee programs that yield ecologically effective and sustainable compensatory mitigation. The series of webinars will focus on specific subjects, providing in-depth technical support on the topics of most interest to participants. The topics were chosen with the assistance of an Advisory Committee based on an assessment of the needs of states, tribes, and local governments and conservation organizations seeking approval for or overseeing the approval of statewide or regional in-lieu fee programs.
ILF Program Evaluation
Compensatory mitigation regulations outline a number of evaluation and reporting requirements for ILF programs. For example, the ILF program instrument must describe reporting protocols (33 C.F.R. § 332.8 (d)(6)(ii)(E)) and the compensation planning framework must include a strategy for periodic evaluation and reporting on the in-lieu fee program’s progress in achieving its goals and objectives (33 C.F.R. § 332.8 (c)(2)(x)). In this webinar, we will discuss how ILF programs have approached program evaluation, reporting, and auditing. First, Steve Martin (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources) will provide an overview of what the 2008 mitigation rule says about program evaluation, reporting, and auditing. Then, Kathy Jensen (The Nature Conservancy, Maine) and Michael Ellison (North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services) will talk about how their programs have approached evaluation and reporting. Finally, James McElfish (Environmental Law Institute) will discuss a process for program auditing.
SPEAKERS/COMMENTERS
- Steve Martin, Institute for Water Resources
- Kathy Jensen,The Nature Conservancy, Maine
- Michael Ellison, North Carolina Division of Mitigation Services
- Jim McElfish, Environmental Law Institute