Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) provides that applicants for a license or permit from the federal government relating to any activity which may result in any discharge into the navigable waters shall obtain a certification from the state in which the discharge originates, or will originate, that any such discharge will comply with the applicable provisions of sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the FWPCA. The department of ecology, under chapter 90.48 RCW, has been designated as the state water pollution control agency for all purposes of the FWPCA, and is authorized to participate fully in the programs of that act as well as to take all action necessary to meet the requirements thereof.