Bill > HB2296

This bill amends the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to clarify the definition of "wetland" and establish specific requirements for where new wetlands must be created to compensate for unavoidable impacts or violations. The bill mandates that wetland replacement should ideally occur immediately next to the wetland that was affected by construction or other activities that caused an obstruction or encroachment. If that's not possible, the replacement should be located along or near the watercourse that benefits from the impacted wetland, or within that watercourse's watershed. If no suitable site can be found within the original watershed, the department, which refers to the Department of Environmental Protection, can consider locations adjacent to the next larger stream or watercourse. The bill also states that a wetland replacement proposal will be rejected if it's outside the original watershed unless all other suitable locations have been exhausted, and if the impact occurs in a coastal zone, the replacement must also be in that zone. Finally, if a replacement wetland is not located immediately next to the impacted wetland, the department will require documentation explaining why that was not feasible.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2296