S. 1495 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 10, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryWetland appeals process gets new protections
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) handles decisions about wetlands on private land. This bill changes how the NRCS handles complaints when someone disagrees with a wetland decision. It requires the government to prove its case with clear evidence, lets people call NRCS experts as witnesses during appeals, and requires the government to share its documentation. It also sets up oversight committees in each state to review these appeals.
How it affects you
If you own land and the NRCS makes a wetland determination that affects how you can use it, these changes help you challenge that decision. You'd have a clearer appeals process, access to the government's records about the determination, and the ability to bring in your own evidence. If you successfully appeal, the government would have to pay your legal fees and expenses. The changes mainly affect landowners who work with the NRCS on wetland-related compliance issues.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 10, 2025)
NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act
This bill revises provisions related to compliance and the appeals process for the wetland certification program at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Among other things, this bill
• prohibits the NRCS from acquiring any permanent easement;
• prohibits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from imposing penalties retroactively for newly determined wetlands;
• revises the appeals process of the NRCS for wetland certification requests;
• prohibits USDA from using new rationale for a wetland determination if a person has previously successfully appealed a final wetland determination;
• establishes that USDA bears the burden of proof, by clear and convincing evidence, that a person has violated certain wetland conservation provisions;
• requires USDA to establish oversight committees in each state that will oversee the appeals of wetland determinations; and
• requires that each individual who interacts with the NRCS have the option to participate in a customer satisfaction survey provided by an independent survey company.
In addition, USDA must modify the appeals process to provide the person appealing with certain USDA records or documentation relating to the compliance violations.
Further, in an appeal that is related to a delineation, determination, or certification of a wetland, USDA must modify the process to (1) allow a person to call NRCS technical staff as a witness, (2) accept evidence provided by the person bringing the appeal as reliable absent substantial evidence that it is not reliable, and (3) compensate a person who successfully appeals for fees and expenses.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 1495
A BILL
NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) · Introduced Apr 10, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 10, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”