Looking Through Rule-colored Glasses

Methods of assessing the suitability of a site for infrastructure improvements that may affect wetlands and to gain regulators' approval are discussed. The National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) requires an interdisciplinary approach to decision making and an objective evaluation of alternative sites and proposed actions which takes into account potential environmental impacts. A decision-making matrix approach based on Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and federal guidelines for wetlands, which enables developers to evaluate proposed alternative project compliance with federal and state guidelines and regulations is described and illustrated. A case study in which the matrix approach was used to assess the suitability of a proposed site for a new reservoir is presented.