Improving America's Established Environmental Offset Programs
Strong conservation outcomes through offsetting
The United States has decades of experience with compensatory mitigation under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Our work identifies bottlenecks in these systems and proposes solutions to make environmental offsetting more efficient, transparent, and equitable while maintaining strong conservation outcomes.
Permitting and Approval Process Reform
Lengthy approval timelines for mitigation banks create uncertainty for both developers and conservationists. We research the causes of delays and propose specific solutions to streamline processes while maintaining environmental standards.
The Time it Takes for Restoration - Mitigation Bank Timelines 2024 Update
Building on previous Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) | Ecological Restoration Business Association research from 2023 (here and here), EPIC analyzed new US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) data to see if timelines on mitigation banks were meeting the federally mandated approval time limit of 225 days.
New Research: Bottlenecks and Solutions to Accelerate Conservation Bank Approvals in California
While efforts at Cutting Green Tape have made in-roads on reducing restoration project approval times, the time savings have not made it to the realm of conservation banking for state-listed species and habitats in California. The regulatory process of establishing a conservation bank for state-listed species in California is hindered by inefficiencies and regulatory ‘green tape,’ resulting in delays beyond the state-mandated deadline of 270 days (SB 1148)
US Compensatory Mitigation Policy Design and Implementation
We analyze specific policy features of mitigation programs, from credit methodologies to financial assurances, identifying opportunities to improve conservation outcomes and program efficiency.
Revenues for Nature Guidebook Series: Wetland Mitigation and Endangered Species Habitat Banking, United States
The guidebook was written for an international audience, and includes: regulatory background of the two major US offset programs and the current scale of activity; demand drivers and buyer-side program elements, supply and seller-side program elements; credit methodologies, ecological standards and verification; financial assurances, offset price, risk and profitability; investment drivers; program administration elements; and lessons learned.
Transparency and Data Systems
Poor data availability undermines public understanding and scientific evaluation of mitigation effectiveness. We advocate for improved data management systems and transparent reporting of mitigation outcomes.
Additional Publications
Streamlining Restoration Projects with Nationwide Permit 27: An Explainer
Report on User Testing of USFWS’ ESA Section 7 Consultation Tool ‘IPaC’ - Exploring Opportunities for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) Tool to Streamline Consultation of Right-of-Way Vegetation Management Projects (EPIC was a contractor for the report)
Equity and Tribal Participation
Compensatory mitigation programs must address historical inequities and create meaningful opportunities for tribal participation in conservation. We identify policy barriers and propose solutions to increase equitable access to mitigation opportunities.
Additional Publications
EPIC submits ESA Sec. 4D comments to increase tribal sovereignty in natural resources
See more - including a three-part video series “Tribal Compensatory Mitigation Explained” - on our tribal compensatory mitigation page