Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 originally authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate ocean dumping of industrial wastes, sewage sludge, and other wastes through a permit program. A prohibition on medical waste was enacted in 1988.
[edit] Ocean dumping Title I
The basic objective of the permit program is to "prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean waters of any material that would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities." The Secretary of the Army is authorized to issue permits for dredged material disposal, and EPA is authorized to designate appropriate dump sites.
Dumping restrictions were enacted for both U.S. flag vessels and materials transported from a location outside the U.S. With respect to the latter category, dumping was prohibited within the U.S. territorial sea and the U.S. contiguous zone. A specific dumping prohibition was included for radiological, chemical and biological warfare agents, high-level radioactive waste and medical wastes. Restrictions have since been placed on dumping activities in the New York Bight Apex and the 106-mile site offshore of New Jersey.
[edit] Ocean dumping research and monitoring
Title II of the Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate a research and monitoring program with EPA and the United States Coast Guard. This program is designed as a long-term research program to study the "possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes of ocean ecosystems." Similarly, EPA is authorized to conduct research regarding dumping alternatives and to consider, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, the feasibility of regional management plans for waste disposal in coastal areas. Congressional reports are required annually.
