PE Environmental Qualitative Practice Exam

This question is about who is responsible for enforcing rules that protect navigable waters from obstructions. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 mainly deals with keeping channels clear and safe for navigation, so the enforcement is split between permitting and policing navigable waters. The Army Corps of Engineers handles permitting for activities that affect navigable waters—things like dredging, filling, or constructing structures—under provisions that ensure projects don’t unreasonably impede navigation. The Coast Guard enforces the actual obstruction and navigation-safety provisions on those waters, taking action when unauthorized work blocks channels or endangers vessels. Together, they cover both authorization and enforcement.

Agencies like the EPA or FAA aren’t the enforcement bodies for this act, and the Department of Transportation isn’t the primary enforcement partner for rivers and harbors matters.