Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to B. F., January 17, 1997

‘зяЗяяяг Congress of t|)t Hmtrti States 5;ouat of i^rprrsrntatibcs ©tofjington, B«L 20515-2002 January 17, 1997 Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns for our nation’s wetlands. It is always good to hear from the young people of the Second Congressional District. We must keep adequate environmental protections in place while protecting the rights of private property owners. An estimated 75 percent of wetlands in the United States are located on private property. During the 104th Congress, I supported legislation to require that the federal government reimburse individuals whose property values have been diminished by at least 20 percent because of agency actions taken under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This legislation would also have required the federal government to purchase private lands whose diminution in value is more than 50 percent. At the same time, I understand that maintaining adequate protections for wetlands is vitally important to the future economic and environmental health of Maryland. According to estimates, H.R. 961 — the Clean Water reauthorization bill passed by the House in May 1995 - would have remove an estimated 60 to 80 percent of Maryland’s wetlands from federal protection. I question whether the Maryland Department of the Environment would assume jurisdiction over valuable wetlands no longer under federal protection. My colleague from Maryland, Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, offered a reasonable compromise proposal. Gilchrest’s proposal - offered as an amendment to H. R. 961 — would have replace the three-tiered wetlands classifications system outlined in the bill with a reasonable “science-based criteria” developed by the respected National Academy of Sciences. Although broadly supported by my colleagues, this amendment failed to pass. Its failure to pass was one of the reasons I voted against H. R. 961 . Thanks again for contacting me. I will keep your views in mind as Congress once again takes up legislation to reauthorize the Clean Water Act during the 105th Congress. Sincerely, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress