Section 404 of the Clean Water Act: Permitting Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material

Laws & Regulations
There are a number of federal statutes passed by Congress and signed into law by the President that are central to the Office of Water’s mission. In addition, Congress authorizes EPA and other federal agencies to write rules and regulations that explain the critical details necessary to implement environmental laws.
Jurisdiction
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Clean Water Rule to protect the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources. The Clean Water Rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined, more predictably determined, and easier for businesses and industry to understand.
Permitting
Corps permits are necessary for any work, including construction and dredging, in the Nation's navigable waters. During the permit process, the Corps considers the views of other Federal, state and local agencies, interest groups, and the general public. This review allows for fair and equitable decisions that allow reasonable use of private property, infrastructure development, and growth of the economy, while offsetting the authorized impacts to the waters of the US.
Mitigation
Wetlands and streams provide important environmental functions including protecting and improving water quality and providing habitat to fish and wildlife. Successful compensatory mitigation projects will replace environmental functions that are lost as a result of permitted activities.