Protection of Wetland - Policy

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Executive Order 11990 - Protection of Wetlands "requires Federal agencies and Responsible Entities to avoid undertaking or providing financial assistance for new construction located within wetlands, unless a finding is made that there is no practicable alternative to such construction."

Section 7 of the Executive Order defines the term "wetlands" to mean "those areas that are inundated by surface or ground water with a frequency sufficient to support and under normal circumstances do or would support a prevalence of vegetative or aquatic life that requires saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions for growth and reproduction. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas such as sloughs, potholes, wet meadows, river overflows, mudflats, and natural ponds." The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior also identifies most wetlands on the National Wetlands Inventory maps. HUD environmental rules cite Executive Order 11990 at 24 CFR 50.4(b) and 58.5(b).