1. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance concerning the implementation of the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987 Manual)(Waterways Experiment Station Technical Report Y-87-1, January 1987). This guidance supersedes the guidance provided in John Studt's 21 August memorandum to the field. Further, this guidance is to be used in conjunction with memoranda dated 23 August, 1991, concerning wetlands delineation and the 1992 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act (Act). In accordance with the Act and the 23 August memoranda, the 1987 Manual is now used to delineate potentially jurisdictional wetlands in place of the 1989 Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands.
2. The guidance in paragraph 3 will be followed in the application of the 1987 Manual.
3. Use of the 1987 Manual is mandatory, however, the Appendices are modified as discussed below:
a. Appendix A: The definition of "under normal circumstances" provided in this glossary is modified pursuant to Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) #90-7;
b. Appendix B: Use of the data sheets provided is recommended, but is not mandatory;
c. Appendix C: Sections 1 and 2 - These sections are replaced with the May 1988 National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands and associated regional lists (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Summary 88(24) and Biological Reports 88(26.1- 26.13). The referenced lists will be used to determine the wetland indicator status of plant species and any subsequent updates will be adopted;
d. Appendix D: Section 2 - The most recent Hydric Soils of the United States list developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (SCS), will be used to determine if a particular soil has been designated as hydric by the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils. The current hydric soils list was published by SCS in December 1987, and any subsequent updates will be adopted.
4. All other current policy considerations concerning wetlands in general (e.g., RGLs) remain in effect during interim use of the 1987 Corps Manual.
5. The Waterways Experiment Station will provide each division and district copies of the 1987 Manual. In addition, a copy of the Environmental Effects of Dredging Technical Notes (EEDP-04-7) dated January 1988, an article which summarizes the methods for delineating wetlands as presented in the 1987 Manual, will follow under separate cover. The article does not reflect the guidance contained in this memorandum; however, it does provide a general overall summary of the 1987 Manual.
SIGNED
JOHN P. ELMORE Chief
Operations, Construction and
Readiness Division
Directorate of Civil Works