The North Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society (NDCTWS) provided these comments in response to a request for information on the efficacy and implementation of the 2024 NWRS Drain Tile Setback rule. USFWS has purchased over 20,000 wetland easements in the state of North Dakota protecting over 1 million acres of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). NDCTWS voiced support for the wetland protections and site-specific evaluation procedures included in the 2024 rule. They note the ongoing loss of wetlands on private lands across the PPR, which could be exacerbated by changing, weakening, or eliminating the 2024 rule.
