Section 401 of the Clean Water Act gives states the authority to review and approve, condition, or deny any federal permits or licenses that might impact state water quality standards. States may use this authority to protect wetlands. This section of the act also gives states the authority to enact their own wetland permit programs for isolated wetlands not under federal jurisdiction and adopt limitations that are more stringent than those on the federal level.
Because the State of Michigan has been granted the authority to administer Section 404 of the Clean Water Act in most areas of the state, Cardno JFNew's team in Michigan works directly with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) to address and comply with Public Act 451 (NREPA). We also work with local governments throughout our service area that have adopted regulations to protect wetlands.