Federal participation in land-use decision making at the water's edge: floodplains and wetlands

Recent policy changes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), increase the Federal government's participation in flood-plain and wetland decisions and will be upheld if challenged in the courts. Except for coastal lands, Congress has generally kept land-use decisions at the local and state level. A pattern of Federal participation in wetlands decisions dates from the mid-1800s, and can be traced through a series of legislative initiatives to the emergency of the unified national-management program. Legislation in the 1970s affects wetlands acquisition, establishes a Water Bank Program, gives regulatory responsibility to the Corps of Engineers, coordinates fish and wildlife programs, protects watershed and floodlands, and amends measures to protect endangered species. 338 references. (DCK)