Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 183 - Water and Soil Resources Board
Chapter 8420 - WETLAND CONSERVATION
WETLAND BANKING
Part 8420.0725 - CERTIFICATION AND DEPOSIT OF CREDITS

A. To be deposited into the state wetland bank, replacement credits must be certified for deposit by the local government unit in which they are located. Certification of credits by the local government unit is requested by the banking plan applicant and may occur at any time during the monitoring period. The certification must be based on the findings and recommendation of the technical evaluation panel and must identify the area by type, area of buffer, and credits eligible for deposit. The technical evaluation panel must ensure that sufficient time has passed for the wetland to become established, especially vegetation and hydrology, before recommending certification. The area certified must be based on a land survey or comparable method of field measurement. The person making the measurement must verify in writing as to the method and accuracy of the measurement. Failure to follow the approved construction specifications or vegetation management plan is sufficient grounds for the local government unit to deny certification of credits for deposit.

B. The certification and request for deposit of credits must be in a form prescribed by the board and must contain the following information:

C. Up to 15 percent of the credits proposed for banking are eligible for deposit in the bank immediately after the certification of construction according to part 8420.0820, subpart 2, and recording of a conservation easement according to part 8420.0705, subpart 5.

D. After the initial deposit, the remaining credits proposed for banking are eligible for deposit in accordance with the credit release schedule and performance standards included in the approved banking plan, subject to review by the technical evaluation panel and certification by the local government unit. If the approved banking plan does not contain a credit release schedule and associated performance standards, remaining credits will be eligible for deposit based on the findings and recommendation of the technical evaluation panel regarding the success of the proposed replacement action.

E. After certifying the credits for deposit, the local government unit must forward the signed request for deposit form to the board's banking administrator. No credits will be deposited until receipt of the completed and approved request to deposit form by the board. The board must acknowledge the deposit to the banking plan applicant and local government unit and enter the information in item B into the wetland bank.

F. If the banking plan applicant chooses not to proceed with the initial deposit, the banking plan applicant may return the site to its preconstruction condition without replacement. If credits have been deposited but none have been withdrawn, the banking plan applicant may request the board vacate the conservation easement at the applicant's expense. If the board vacates the conservation easement, the account will be closed and the site may be returned to preconstruction condition without replacement. Replacement areas wholly or partially deposited into the bank, on which withdrawals have occurred or which otherwise have been used for replacement, are subject to this chapter, including replacement for any subsequent impacts.