States not adopting an SIP within a certain period of time are subject to sanctions, including possible loss of federal highway funding. Since 1990, the Act has required each state to have a permit program that requires major sources of air pollution to obtain a permit and adhere to emission limits and monitoring requirements. The Clean Air Act also regulates motor vehicle emissions by establishing federal limits on emissions, which are applicable throughout the United States with the exception of California. The purpose of the Act is to establish national uniform, technology-based standards for water sources. A wetland is an area that is inundated or saturated by water.
Wetlands have particular environmental value because they support unique plant and animal species.
Although the Federal Water Pollution Control Act doesn't expressly provide for the protection of wetlands, the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have utilized certain provisions to provide protection for sensitive wetlands areas. The above permit is required for any activity in wetlands involving disturbance of the wetlands, including any construction, filling, excavation, or dredging. EPA regulations contain stringent limitations on issuing permits for activities in wetlands, and require consideration of practicable alternatives to any such activity. Certain activities are exempt from the permit requirement including, for example, normal farming activities such as maintenance of farm ponds, irrigation, and drainage ditches. These regulations set acceptable levels of physical, chemical, biological, and radiological substances in public water systems.