John B. Breaux: “I'm pleased to cosponsor with Senator Bond the mitigation banking amendment to the highway bill. I thank Senator Bond…”

“I'm pleased to cosponsor with Senator Bond the mitigation banking amendment to the highway bill. I thank Senator Bond for his leadership and am pleased to continue working with him on wetlands-related issues. The Bond-Breaux amendment is direct and straightforward. It simply says that mitigation banking shall be the preferred means, to the maximum extent practicable, to mitigate for wetlands or natural habitat which are affected as part of a Federal-aid highway project and whose mitigation is paid for with Federal-aid funds. In addition, the amendment identifies three factors that are to be met in order to use a mitigation bank: first, the affected wetlands or natural habitat are to be in a bank's service area; second, the bank has to have enough credits available to offset the impact; and third, the bank has to meet federally approved standards. So, Senator Bond and I, through this amendment, are simply trying to establish a reasonable, responsible wetlands and natural habitat mitigation policy as part of the Federal-aid highway program. Our proposal has two key components: First, we say give mitigation banking a preference, to the maximum extent practicable, which is reasonable. Second, we say a bank should meet certain conditions to ensure its effectiveness and viability, which is being responsible. Let me emphasize that our amendment does not mandate the use of mitigation banks.”