Have these approaches been used in Washington?
Momentum is building in Washington for use of these programs.  There are several examples of large construction projects that have looked to watershed plans to find good offsite mitigation.  A recent pilot project has approved a number of wetland mitigation banks, and more are proposed.  Also, local programs are being developed in Clark and Whatcom counties to help speed permitting processes and match development projects to offsite opportunities.  The building blocks are there for a system that works for a variety of resources throughout the Puget Sound region.

How will these strategies affect forestry and agriculture?

Restoration projects must be carefully placed to avoid using high-quality timber or farmland for mitigation projects, particularly in areas facing loss from development.  It may be possible for foresters and farmers to get paid for restoring stream buffers and other resources on their lands by agencies needing to restore such resources for mitigation requirements. 

Do these strategies relax standards for development?

No.  All safeguards for environmental protection remain in place under these mitigation strategies.  In particular, requirements that public and private developers avoid and minimize impacts are retained. 

What benefits are there for a public or private developer?

With these tools, a developer is assured that money invested in mitigation is likely to result in meaningful improvements in the environment.  More mitigation projects will result in successful, positive impacts to the environment.  Also, with the participation and approval of permitting agencies, these strategies can make the permitting process faster and more predictable. 

Where else can I learn about this?

The Washington State Department of Ecology and the US Environmental Protection Agency are good resources for up to date information on environmental mitigation. 

The Washington State Department of Ecology has many publications posted on its website, including a Guide for Developing Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Plans and Proposals. 

Also, the EPA has written a 2 page summary of wetland mitigation that briefly describes these new tools and provides other references for additional background information.