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<br />4. Legislati ve revisions of the entire program in <br />connection with Clean Water Act review in Congress, <br /> <br />this year is likely. <br /> <br />Numerous proposals have <br /> <br />already surfaced, such as H.B. 1330, by Hayes of <br /> <br />Louisiana. <br /> <br />Several of these proposals suggest <br /> <br />wetlands classifications that afford different <br /> <br />levels of protection for different quality <br />wetlands. H.B. 1330 proposes a three-tier system. <br />Class A wetlands, the highest quali ty wetlands <br />serving ori tical ecological function, would be <br /> <br />highly protected; probably no permit would be <br /> <br />allowed. <br /> <br />Class B wetlands are intermediate in <br /> <br />quality <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />protection; <br /> <br />reasonably <br /> <br />liberal <br /> <br />mitigation would be allowable. Class C are lowest <br />in priority and are essentially unprotected. The <br />Hayes bill would adopt the revised stringent <br />delineation standards under the current EPA <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />proposal, remove EPA from the permit process, and <br />eliminate the veto power under 404C. While it is <br />not clear what the political prospects are for such <br /> <br />legislation, it appears that a very controversial <br /> <br />session is likely. <br />C. Clean Water Act - 5402; 5401 certification; NPDES; <br />Discharge permits, as a general matter, may not be <br />required for water diversion and storage aspects of water <br /> <br />proj ects under existing law. <br /> <br />The general system for <br /> <br />4 <br />