SB 1646 (DiCeglie) revises the list of projects eligible to use wetland mitigation banks and authorizes the use of mitigation credits within surrounding basins, rather than in the basin being impacted if credits are deemed unavailable within that basin. The bill specifies the circumstances under which credits may be deemed unavailable in a basin and specifies the factors the Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts must consider when awarding mitigation credits. In addition, the bill provides requirements for the calculation of additional credits necessary to use mitigation credits from outside a project area basin. The bill requires the Department to adopt rules that conform to and implement the bill’s requirements. (O’Hara)