A. Impacts that can be mitigated via bank. Loss of Category I, Category II, Category III or Category IV wetland buffer, and loss of Category II, Category III, or Category IV wetland may be mitigated via purchasing of rights in an approved wetland mitigation bank. Impacts to Category I wetlands from private development or public infrastructure projects may only be compensated for by purchasing rights in an approved wetland mitigation bank. Development proposals for which wetland mitigation banking is proposed as mitigation must first demonstrate compliance with the preferred wetland mitigation sequence described in Section 13-3-12(B) of this title.
B. Required characteristics of bank. Credits from a wetland mitigation bank may be approved for use as compensation for impacts to wetlands when all of the following criteria are met:
1. The bank is certified under Chapter 173-700 WAC, as may be amended;
2. The Director determines the wetland mitigation bank provides appropriate compensation for authorized impacts; and
3. The proposed use of credits is consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank’s certification.
C. Compensatory mitigation ratios for projects using bank credits shall be consistent with compensatory mitigation ratios specified in the bank’s certification.
D. Credits from a certified wetland mitigation bank may be used to compensate for impacts located within the service area specified in the bank’s certification. (Ord. 985, 10-5-2020)