Compensatory Mitigation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-005871",
  "term": "Compensatory Mitigation",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Refers to the restoration, establishment, enhancement, and/or preservation of wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources conducted specifically for the purpose of offsetting authorized impacts to these resources. In 2008, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly promulgated regulations revising and clarifying requirements regarding compensatory mitigation. According to these regulations, the fundamental objective of compensatory mitigation is to offset environmental losses resulting from unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States authorized by Clean Water Act Section 404 permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Compensatory mitigation enters the analysis only after a proposed project has incorporated all appropriate and practicable means to first avoid and minimize adverse impacts to aquatic resources.\n\n2. Restoration (re-establishment or rehabilitation), establishment (creation), enhancement, and/or in certain circumstances preservation of aquatic resources for the purposes of offsetting unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved.\n\n3. The restoration, establishment (creation), enhancement, or preservation of aquatic resources for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved.",
  "subject": "Water",
  "references": [
    "EPA Compensatory Mitigation at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/wetlandsmitigation_index.cfm",
    "40 CFR 230.92 (CFR 2018)",
    "Aquatic Resources Awareness Course for Real Estate Appraisers Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/compensatory-mitigation/"
}