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<br />HIGHLIGHTS OF SECTION 4041 <br /> <br />FEDERAL REGULATORY PROGRAM <br /> <br />TO <br /> <br />PROTECf WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES <br /> <br />lNTRODucnON <br /> <br />The u.s. Congress enacted the <br />Cean Water Act to "restore and <br />maintain tbe chemical. pb~ical. and <br />biological integrity of the Nation's <br />waters." Section 404 of the Cean <br />Water Act regulates the discharge of <br />dredged and till material intO waters <br />of the United States. and establishes <br />a permit program 'to ensure that such <br />discharges comply with environmental <br />requirements, The Section 404 <br />program is administered at the <br />federal level by the U.S. Army Corps <br />of Engineers (Corps) and the U.s. <br />Environmental Protection Agency <br />(EPA). The U.S. rlSll and Wildlife <br />Service (FWS) and the National <br />~arine FISheries Service (NMFS) <br />have important advisory roles. The <br />Corps has the primary responsibility <br />for tile permit program and is <br />authorized. after notice and <br />opportunity for a public hearing. to <br /> <br />issue permits for the discbarge of <br />dredged or !IU material. States can <br />assume a portion of the permitting <br />program from the federa.I government <br />(for some walen only), but there lias <br />been limited intereSt by the States. <br />EPA lias primary roles in sewraI <br />aspecu of the Section 404 program <br />inl:Iuding cIlM:lopment of the <br />environmental guidelines by ..bich <br />permit applications must be <br />evaluated; review of proposed <br />permits; prohibition of discharges <br />with unacceptable achene impacts; <br />approval and owrsigllt.of Stale <br />assumption of the program; <br />establishment of jurisdictional scope <br />of watetS of the United States; and <br />interpretatioll of Sectloll 404 <br />exemptions. Enfonzment authority <br />is shared benw:en EP A and the <br />Corps. <br /> <br />, <br />Watc:S of the United States <br />proteaed by the Qean Waler Act <br /> <br />include rivers. streams. estuaries. the <br />territorial seas, and most ponds. lakes <br />and wetlands. The term wetlands <br />includes swamps. marshes. bogs and <br />similar areas. Wetlands are a <br />partic:ularly important and sensitive <br />seglllent of our waters. and therefore <br />merit special attention. Wetlands <br />provide eritical habitat for manv <br />important species of fish and wildlife. <br />and export plant particles (called <br />detritUS) that setve as food for <br />aqua~ organisms in adjacent waters, <br />Peak floodwaters are absorbed bv <br />wetlands, rec1uc:ing damage to . <br />downsueam property, olten farms and <br />mWlicipalities. Water qualitv is <br />improved as a result of a number of <br />natlmll Prn<'-$es that remove <br />pollutantS from waler flowing through <br />wetlands. In addition. aesthetic, <br />recreational, SCientific, and <br />educational values are provided by <br />these natural aquatic areas. While_ <br />not every wetland performs all of <br /> <br />I TM infomllllio1l COlllaillect ill this documenr is iIIleIIIWJ to provide a basil: ~g of rhe Section .t1J.t <br />program. Ir i.: nor a form of policy gu.idlJlu:e and should nor be re/Ud 011 as sudt. For official guida1lce 011 <br />Section 404 policy, rJu retuUr should go ro rhe specific documenu (such as rM ClttUI Wart!' Act and Iht .\10...1 's <br />between EP A an.ct the Amry Corps of Engillttn) or C01llact rhe approprtlJrt EP A or Corps office, <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />E?:\. OCficc or Wettandl Protection <br /> <br />October <br /> <br />I <br />