Section 40 the Clean Water Act establishes a program to regulate the discharge of _____________ into waters of the United States, including wetlands.

Section 40 the Clean Water Act establishes a program to regulate the discharge of _____________ into waters of the United States, including wetlands.

• A. Dredged and fill materials
• B. Sewage
• C. Oil
• D. Sediments

Answer: (A)

The policy concept here is that a specific permit program under the Clean Water Act regulates the placement of materials into waters of the United States, including wetlands. This program targets dredged and fill materials—things like soil, rock, concrete, or other substances that are moved or placed into a water body to create or modify land. Because dredged or fill material can permanently or temporarily affect the occupancy and function of wetlands and other waters, projects involving this activity generally require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, with oversight from the EPA, to review impacts and require mitigation if needed. That focus on dredged and fill materials is what makes this answer correct. Sewage discharges are managed under wastewater permit programs (NPDES) with a broader scope, oil discharges are addressed under oil-spill and related provisions, and sediments involve broader sediment and runoff controls rather than the specific dredged-and-fill permit regime.

The policy concept here is that a specific permit program under the Clean Water Act regulates the placement of materials into waters of the United States, including wetlands. This program targets dredged and fill materials—things like soil, rock, concrete, or other substances that are moved or placed into a water body to create or modify land. Because dredged or fill material can permanently or temporarily affect the occupancy and function of wetlands and other waters, projects involving this activity generally require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, with oversight from the EPA, to review impacts and require mitigation if needed. That focus on dredged and fill materials is what makes this answer correct. Sewage discharges are managed under wastewater permit programs (NPDES) with a broader scope, oil discharges are addressed under oil-spill and related provisions, and sediments involve broader sediment and runoff controls rather than the specific dredged-and-fill permit regime.