Assembly set to OK wetland credits bill

MADISON, Wis. — The state Assembly is preparing to pass a bill that would require developers to purchase wetland mitigation credits within the watershed they’re changing.

The Department of Natural Resources requires creation or preservation of other wetlands as a condition of an individual permit allowing dredging or filling wetlands. Builders can satisfy those conditions by purchasing credits from a mitigation bank located anywhere in Wisconsin. Banks are a stash of credits generated by other developers who created or preserved wetlands.

The bill would require builders buy credits from banks in impacted watersheds. The DNR could allow purchases from other watersheds to better serve conservation goals, however.

The Assembly is set to vote on the bill Thursday. The Senate passed it last month. Assembly approval would send the bill to Gov. Tony Evers.

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