LANDOWNERS\u27 PERCEPTIONS RELATED TO WETLAND REGULATORY POLICY IN COASTAL LOUISIANA

Coastal wetlands in Louisiana are over 75% privately owned. Activities conducted in wetlands are primarily regulated through both the Clean Water Act (Section 404) and the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The purpose of this study was to investigate coastal landowners\u27 perceptions related to wetland regulatory policy and use the results in the development of future, more workable wetland regulatory policy in Louisiana and the United States (see recommendations section). Regulatory program concerns most often listed by private landowners include: 1) acceptable definition of a wetland remains unsettled; 2) inconsistencies caused when two or more government agencies or programs issue conflicting wetland determinations on the same tract of land; 3) delays in obtaining a wetland determination; 4) delays in obtaining a wetland permit decision; 5) cost of permit and/or permit requirements too high; 6) loss of private property rights due to protection of public wetland benefits; and 7) the issue of regulatory takings without just compensation (under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution)