Smart Growth: Wetlands Protection Invites Reflection on Federal Law

Although land use regulation at the federal, state, and local level are independent entities, integrating their functions may prove to be a successful method to facilitate smart growth and to protect wetlands. This article examines environmental regulation for wetlands at several levels of government. Specifically, this feature discusses federal command and control environmental laws and state government (New York and Connecticut) regulation efforts, which are justified though state sovereign police power. Also discussed, is the role of local government to act within their jurisdictions, and how governmental forces may agree upon joint resolutions in order to solve national problems. For example, some states have programs to enforce federal legislation such as the Clean Water Act