Dredge and fill activities - what resources are protected under Section 404?

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Multiple Choice

Dredge and fill activities - what resources are protected under Section 404?

Dredge and fill activities are regulated under Section 404 to protect wetlands and other waters of the United States from the discharge of dredged or fill material. This means that before any material is placed into these waters, a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is typically required. The protection covers wetlands as well as surface waters—rivers, streams, lakes, and similar bodies—that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The idea is to maintain the ecological functions these waters provide, such as habitat, water quality, and flood control. Drinking water sources are safeguarded primarily by the Safe Drinking Water Act, not Section 404. Groundwater and air quality are addressed by other programs—the former by groundwater regulations and the latter by the Clean Air Act—so they aren’t the focus of Section 404 protections.

Dredge and fill activities are regulated under Section 404 to protect wetlands and other waters of the United States from the discharge of dredged or fill material. This means that before any material is placed into these waters, a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is typically required. The protection covers wetlands as well as surface waters—rivers, streams, lakes, and similar bodies—that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The idea is to maintain the ecological functions these waters provide, such as habitat, water quality, and flood control.

Drinking water sources are safeguarded primarily by the Safe Drinking Water Act, not Section 404. Groundwater and air quality are addressed by other programs—the former by groundwater regulations and the latter by the Clean Air Act—so they aren’t the focus of Section 404 protections.

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