The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 is the oldest federal environmental law in the United States.

The Act also made it illegal to dam navigable streams without a license (or permit) from Congress.

This provision was included for the purposes of hydroelectric generation, at a time when the electric utility industry was expanding rapidly.

The Corps owns and operates many bridges and may not regulate themselves due to conflict of interest.

[3] The Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over the waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.