Bill > SB9

This bill, titled the "Wetlands Stewardship Act," aims to strengthen protections for Delaware's wetlands, particularly nontidal wetlands, which have seen reduced federal oversight following recent Supreme Court decisions. It expands the definition of "wetlands" to include both tidal and nontidal areas, establishes a goal of no net loss in wetland acreage and function, and introduces new definitions for terms like "Exceptional Value Wetlands" and "Delaware Wetland Screening Tool." The bill also creates a Wetlands Regulatory Advisory Committee to assist in developing regulations and reviewing their implementation, and it removes existing nontidal wetland standards, consolidating them into this new comprehensive act. Furthermore, it modifies permit requirements, introduces exemptions for certain activities like farming and silviculture, and streamlines permitting processes, including provisions for "one-stop permitting" with federal agencies. The bill also addresses subaqueous lands, exempting certain activities in private nontidal subaqueous lands that are authorized by federal permits and have received state water quality certification.