Wetlands

Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Approves Rules for Use of Land Under Peatlands

In May 2026 Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a resolution creating a special legal regime and mapping requirements for land containing peatlands to guide future ownership and rezoning decisions. This will force authorities and developers to factor peatlands’ climate and water functions into new land-use decisions, aligning Ukrainian policy with EU climate and biodiversity objectives while leaving existing designations and permits unchanged for now.

9 May 2026, 19:01me.gov.uaUkraine

Michigan Legislature Proposes Limits on Wetland Permit Revisions (HB 5938)

In April 2026, Michigan lawmakers introduced HB 5938 to amend the state wetlands permitting statute, limiting how the department can revise permits when holders request changes. If enacted, this would give wetland permit holders more certainty that change requests will not trigger broader permit reopeners or unrelated new conditions, reducing regulatory risk for Michigan projects affecting wetlands.

5 May 2026, 14:15legislature.mi.govUnited States

Michigan House Natural Resources And Tourism Committee Schedules Hearing On Wetlands And Emissions Bills

Michigan’s House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee has scheduled an April 22, 2026 hearing on seven environmental bills covering wetlands regulation, mitigation credits, fishing limits, and air-emissions profile data. While still at committee stage, this package signals potential future changes to wetlands permitting and emissions reporting for Michigan projects, warranting early monitoring by developers and industrial operators.

23 Apr 2026, 09:23legislature.mi.govUnited States

New York Assembly Bill A10936 Clarifies Tidal Wetlands Definition For Marine And Coastal District

In April 2026, the New York Assembly introduced Bill A10936 to amend the Environmental Conservation Law so that “tidal wetlands” explicitly cover areas bordering tidal waters within the state’s marine and coastal district. If enacted, this immediately effective change could broaden which coastal parcels are treated as protected tidal wetlands, tightening permitting and land-use constraints for shoreline development and infrastructure projects in the affected district.

19 Apr 2026, 17:26assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

European Commission Approves €1.3 Billion German State Aid Scheme for Rewetting of Farmed Peatlands

The European Commission has approved a €1.3 billion German state aid scheme to fund rewetting of drained farmed peatlands through direct grants running until the end of 2029. This long-term subsidy support strengthens EU climate and land-use objectives by channelling substantial public finance into peatland restoration projects rather than imposing new regulatory duties.

19 Apr 2026, 16:42ec.europa.euEuropean UnionGermany

Ukraine Proposes Cabinet Resolution on Special Legal Regime for Peatlands

Ukraine has advanced a draft Cabinet resolution establishing a special legal regime for peatland lands, following a public consultation and a March 2026 workshop emphasising their role in climate policy and water security. If adopted, the measure will formalise peatland mapping and land-use restrictions in the state cadastre, forcing local authorities and land users to integrate climate, water, and biodiversity protection into planning decisions.

16 Apr 2026, 15:49me.gov.uaUkraine

Oregon Enacts HB 5203 Increasing Removal‑Fill and Wetland Permit Fees Through 2030

Oregon has enacted HB 5203, immediately increasing state agency fees including significantly higher costs for Department of State Lands removal-fill and wetland permits through 2030. Operators must adjust capital planning and project budgets to account for escalating multi-year permitting costs for any activities impacting state wetlands or waters.

10 Apr 2026, 15:42olis.oregonlegislature.govUnited States

Louisiana SB 452 Would Ban Most Coastal Use Permits on Lake Maurepas From August 2026

Louisiana Senate Bill 452 proposes to prohibit most new coastal use permits for construction and development on Lake Maurepas starting August 2026. Operators must verify if planned infrastructure projects fall within narrow exemptions for existing facilities and dredging to avoid significant permitting barriers and project delays.

3 Apr 2026, 18:49legis.la.govUnited States

Delaware Senate Introduces SB 9 to Create Statewide Nontidal Wetlands Permitting Program

Delaware has proposed the Wetlands Stewardship Act to establish a comprehensive state-level permitting program for all tidal and nontidal wetlands. This move closes federal jurisdictional gaps and introduces a no net loss standard, requiring infrastructure and industrial operators to plan for expanded mitigation and state-level oversight.

3 Apr 2026, 18:40legis.delaware.govUnited States

New Hampshire DES Adopts Env-C 800 Ecological Review Rule For Threatened And Endangered Species

New Hampshire has formalized ecological review requirements for projects affecting threatened species and critical habitats under new administrative rules effective early 2026. Businesses must account for mandatory sixty-day review timelines and annual permit screening renewals to prevent project delays and manage biodiversity-related operational risks.

1 Apr 2026, 14:22des.nh.govUnited States

EU Commission Issues Guidance on Adapting Natura 2000 Sites to Climate Change

The European Commission issued new guidance in March 2026 to align Natura 2000 site management with climate adaptation goals under existing nature directives. Businesses should anticipate more dynamic conservation requirements and potential site boundary shifts that could complicate permitting and land-use planning for projects near protected areas.

31 Mar 2026, 19:10environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Minnesota House Introduces HF4764 On Wetland Replacement Siting Priorities

Minnesota introduced legislation in March 2026 to eliminate geographic exemptions for wetland banking, mandating a strict local-to-regional siting hierarchy for all mitigation. This shift will likely increase project costs and development timelines by restricting the availability of usable wetland credits to the immediate vicinity of impacted sites.

28 Mar 2026, 20:28revisor.mn.govUnited States

Minnesota Senate Introduces SF 4911 To Modify Wetland Replacement Siting Rules

Minnesota introduced SF 4911 in March 2026 to revise siting and priority requirements for wetland replacement and banking. This proposal could shift geographic constraints and cost structures for project developers required to offset wetland impacts within the state.

27 Mar 2026, 20:51revisor.mn.govUnited States

Minnesota MPCA Seeks Comment on Draft CWA Section 401 Certification for TH 74 Culvert Replacements (Winona County)

Minnesota is consulting on a draft Clean Water Act Section 401 certification for a regional infrastructure project through April 2026. This highlights the rigorous application of state antidegradation standards and wetland mitigation requirements for construction and infrastructure activities.

27 Mar 2026, 07:55scs-public.s3-us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.comUnited States

Minnesota HF 3898: Committee Packet Posted For Hearing On Pesticide Protections For Wild‑Rice Waters

Minnesota is advancing legislation to implement stringent pesticide controls and enhanced enforcement mechanisms specifically for the protection of wild-rice waters. Businesses must prepare for heightened liability risks, mandatory impact assessments, and stricter operational constraints near designated aquatic ecosystems.

27 Mar 2026, 07:52revisor.mn.govUnited States

Virginia DEQ Opens Hearing and Comment on Surface Water Withdrawal Permit VWP 24-2886 (Lexington, VA)

Virginia DEQ has proposed a draft surface water withdrawal permit with strict volume limits and mandatory chemical buffer zones for site operations. This signals increasing regulatory scrutiny on water stewardship and chemical runoff, requiring operators to integrate drought planning and nutrient management into site-specific compliance strategies.

26 Mar 2026, 12:14deq.virginia.govUnited States

Michigan Public Act 30 of 2025 (SB 579) — Updates NREPA Water, Stormwater, and Hazardous Waste Fees

Michigan has enacted Public Act 30 of 2025, immediately revising fee schedules for water discharge, stormwater, and hazardous waste permits through late 2029. Industrial operators should update compliance budgets to reflect increased permit costs and prioritize annual payment deadlines to maintain valid discharge authorizations.

25 Mar 2026, 21:29legislature.mi.govUnited States

New Jersey Adopts REAL Rule Amendments to Flood, Wetlands, Stormwater and Coastal Rules

New Jersey has adopted the Resilient Environments and Landscapes REAL rule amendments to integrate climate-adjusted flood elevations and sea-level rise into land use and stormwater permits. Operators must immediately reassess infrastructure resilience and permitting strategies as legacy protections for existing projects expire in July 2026.

25 Mar 2026, 21:26dep.nj.govUnited States

Defra Publishes First Land Use Framework For England

The UK government has launched England’s first Land Use Framework to coordinate food security, nature recovery, and infrastructure development through 2030. Companies in the energy, agriculture, and construction sectors should prepare for more integrated spatial planning and shifting land-use incentives as this strategy transitions into binding planning policy.

20 Mar 2026, 15:57gov.ukUnited Kingdom

California Assembly Amends AB 2260 on Small Restoration Water-Use Registrations

California is advancing legislation to establish a streamlined registration process for small-scale water restoration projects as of March 2026. This reform facilitates faster implementation of nature-based solutions and habitat restoration, reducing administrative barriers for corporate water stewardship and conservation initiatives.

19 Mar 2026, 19:34leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States