California Supplemental (CSE) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a federal agency involved in the wetland approval process?

1. California Coastal Commission

2. State Lands Commission

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

4. California Environmental Protection Agency

The correct answer is: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a federal agency that plays a significant role in the wetland approval process. Its involvement is primarily through the enforcement of the Clean Water Act, which governs the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, including wetlands. The EPA works alongside other federal and state entities to ensure that wetland areas are protected from degradation, and it reviews Section 404 permit applications that involve the discharge of dredged or fill material into these sensitive environments. In contrast, the California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission focus on issues pertinent to California's coastal and state lands, respectively, but they do not operate at the federal level. The California Environmental Protection Agency oversees environmental protection efforts within the state of California, incorporating various departments, yet it does not have the same federal jurisdiction or direct involvement in the wetland approval processes as the EPA does.