18G.20.010 Purpose.
Pierce County requires compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands, streams, and fish and wildlife species and habitat conservation areas. Compensatory mitigation consists of replacing or providing substitute resources or environments and is the second to the last step within the mitigation sequence (PCC 18E.30.050 A. and 18E.40.050). Pierce County may accept the purchase of credits from in-lieu fee (ILF) mitigation programs as fulfillment of the requirements for compensatory mitigation, once all available and prudent measures have been taken to avoid, minimize, rectify, and reduce or eliminate over time any impacts to these critical areas.
The purchase of credits from an ILF program may be approved as compensatory mitigation when the following conditions are met:
•The ILF program is certified under applicable State and Federal regulations.
•The Department of Planning and Public Works (PPW) determines that the ILF program provides appropriate compensation for the authorized impacts.
•The proposed use of credits is consistent with terms and conditions of the ILF program certification.