Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972

Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
Great Seal of the United States
Other short titles
  • Comprehensive Research on Ocean Dumping Act
  • Marine Sanctuaries Act
Long title An Act to regulate the transportation for dumping, and the dumping, of material into ocean waters, and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial) MPRSA, ODA
Nicknames Ocean Dumping Act
Enacted by the 92nd United States Congress
Effective October 23, 1972
Citations
Public law 92-532
Statutes at Large 86 Stat. 1052
Codification
Titles amended
U.S.C. sections created
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House as H.R. 9727
  • Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on October 23, 1972
Major amendments

Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA) or Ocean Dumping Act is one of several key environmental laws passed by the US Congress in 1972.[1][2] The Act has two essential aims: to regulate intentional ocean disposal of materials, and to authorize any related research.[3] While the MPRSA regulates the ocean dumping of waste and provides for a research program on ocean dumping, it also provides for the designation and regulation of marine sanctuaries.[4] The act regulates the ocean dumping of all material beyond the territorial limit (3 miles (4.8 km) from shore) and prevents or strictly limits dumping material that "would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities”.[4] The MPRSA authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate ocean dumping of materials including, but not limited to, industrial waste, sewage sludge, biological agents, radioactive agents, NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical), garbage, chemicals, and biological and laboratory, as well as other wastes, into the territorial waters of the United States through a permit program. The EPA can issue permits for dumping of materials other than dredge spoils if the agency determines, through a full public notice and process, that the discharge will not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health or welfare or the marine environment.[5] The law also has provisions related to creating marine sanctuaries, conducting ocean disposal research and monitoring coastal water quality.[5]

Ocean dumping before enactment

For much of history, the ocean was used generally as a dumping ground for many types of waste such as garbage, acid rain and toxins, including chemical weapons.[6] In 1968, the US National Academy of Sciences estimated the annual release to the marine environment, from both dumping and disposal (through a pipe), of 100 million tons of petroleum products, two to four million tons of acid chemical wastes from pulp mills, more than one million tons of heavy metals in industrial wastes, and more than 100,000 tons of organic chemical wastes. US EPA records indicate that between 1946 and 1970, more than 89,000 containers of radioactive wastes were dumped at Atlantic and Pacific ocean dump sites.[7] One area off the coast of New Jersey was used until 1987 as a disposal area for millions of tons per year [8] of sewage sludge. This area is now known as the "12-Mile Dumping Ground," and has a large amount of toxic metals. Divers are still advised to avoid the area due to the high level of refuse materials and toxins.[9] Because ocean contaminants know no boundaries, there have been international and regional parameters established since the 1970s.[3] These regulations consist of regional treaties and conventions related to local marine pollution problems and international conventions that provide a standardized control of worldwide marine pollution.[3] In the early 1970s the United States endorsed the MSRPA to regulate any waste disposal in marine waters that are within U.S. jurisdiction.[3]

Sludge being dumped in the New York Bight, 1974

Chemical weapons

Chemical weapons were routinely dumped into the ocean before the act.[6][10] During World War I, stockpiles of captured German blister chemicals — mustard agent and lewisite, were dumped into the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. United States dumped 6,600 tons of Japanese Imperial Army mustard agent and hydrogen cyanide at more than 20 sites off Tokyo and Ibaraki and Hiroshima prefectures, according to Ministry of the Environment records.[6] US Mustard agent, sarin and VX were dumped off the US East Coast in 1968 under Operation CHASE.[6] According to a 2010 report by researchers from the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, California, the U.S. military had dumped roughly 300,000 tons of chemical weapons in the world’s oceans, most at sites only roughly recorded or not at all.[6] In Japan alone, as of 2010, there had been more than 820 incidents involving chemical weapons dumped in the postwar period; 400 people have been injured and more than 10 have been killed.[6] According to the 2010 Monterey report, specifically sarin and VX, "are believed to persist for long periods in ocean waters".[6] In Japan's Okinawa case, Operation Red Hat, it was under the long denied Project 112.[11] Described by the U.S. Department of Defense as “biological and chemical warfare vulnerability tests,” the highly classified program subjected thousands of unwitting American service members around the globe to substances including sarin and VX nerve gases between 1962 and 1974.[11] Department of Defense acknowledges it conducted the tests in Hawaii, Panama and aboard ships in the Pacific Ocean.[11]

If the material was mustard, the surface would become a hardened complex (when exposed to sea water) that would protect the inner material. This would remain as toxic as when it was first produced. Raymond A. Zilinskas, current director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Monterey Institute

Ocean Dumping Code

Ocean Dumping
Table 1. Major U.S. Code Sections of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (codified as 33 U.S.C. 1401-1445, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1447f, 33 U.S.C. 2801-2805).[12]
Section Title Ocean Dumping Act
33 U.S.C
1401 Congressional findings, declaration of policy Sec. 2
1401 Definitions Sec. 3
Title I - Permit Program
1411 Prohibited acts Sec. 101
1412 Environmental Protection Agency permits Sec. 102
1413 Corps of Engineers permits Sec. 103
1414 Permit conditions Sec. 104
1414a Special provisions regarding certain dumping sites Sec. 104A
1414b Ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste Sec. 104B
1414c Prohibition on disposal of sewage sludge at landfills on Staten Island Sec. 104C
1415 Penalties Sec. 105
1416 Relationship to other laws Sec. 106
1417 Enforcement Sec. 107
1418 Regulations Sec. 108
1419 International cooperation Sec. 109
1420 Authorization of appropriations Sec. 111
1421 Annual report to Congress Sec. 112
Title II - Research Programs
1441 Monitoring and research programs Sec. 201
1442 Research on long-term effects Sec. 202
1443 Research program - ocean dumping and other methods Sec. 203
1444 Annual reports Sec. 204
1445 Authorization of appropriations Sec. 205
Title III - Marine Sanctuaries
Title IV - Regional Marine Research Programs
16 U.S.C.
1447 Purposes Sec. 401
1447a Definitions Sec. 402
1447b Regional marine research boards Sec. 403
1447c Regional research plans Sec. 404
1447d Research grant program Sec. 405
1447e Report on research program Sec. 406
1447f Authorization of appropriations Sec. 407
Title V - National Coastal Monitoring System
33 U.S.C.
2801 Purposes Sec. 501
2802 Definitions Sec. 502
2803 Comprehensive coastal water quality monitoring program Sec. 503
2804 Report to Congress Sec. 504
2805 Authorization of appropriations Sec. 505

Responsible agencies

There are four federal agencies that share responsibilities under the Ocean Dumping Act:[12]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary agency that is in charge of regulating the disposal of all substances that are disposed in the ocean; this agency also authorize the research and demonstration of activities that are have to do with phasing out sewage and industrial waste disposing.[12] The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agency is in charge of dredged spoils.[12] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in charge of the research on the changes of the marine environment that are caused by humans.[12] The U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of the surveillance of ocean dumping.[12]

The NOAA National Marine Sanctuary program manages a network of underwater areas that are protected by the US. These special bodies of water, like oceans and lakes, are protected by Congress to keep natural and cultural resources while allowing people to enjoy the waters. The Marine Protection, Research, Sanctuaries Act gives way for a national network of marine sanctuaries that are administered by NOAA.The NOAA was created in 1970 after an oil spill 30 miles of the coast of California released 235,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean. As time passes and technology advances, the NOAA has added sanctuaries all over the US. Three sites followed from 1992, with Congress designating Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Massachusetts and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California.

Title I - Permit Program

Title I of the MPRSA prohibits all ocean dumping, except that allowed by permits issued by the EPA Administrator pursuant to Section 102 of the MPRSA, in any ocean waters under U.S. jurisdiction, by any U.S. vessel, or by any vessel sailing from a U.S. port.[3][13] EPA designates sites for ocean dumping and specifies in each permit where the material is to be disposed.[3][13]

In 1973, the EPA permitted two interim chemical disposal sites in the Gulf of Mexico, as described in the report, Assessing Potential Ocean Pollutants, published by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS, 1975) https://books.google.com/books/about/Assessing_Potential_Ocean_Pollutants.html?id=eicQOgkswusC. At Site A, uncontained wastes were discharged through a submerged pipe into the turbulent wake of a barge. At Site B, waste materials were placed in barrels before discharge. Chemical wastes discharged at these sites reportedly had various concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons, calcium and sodium metals, formaldehyde, cyanide and other metals (i.e. antimony, mercury, arsenic, zinc, manganese, and iron). Seven permits issued by the EPA in 1973 for the period of May 1 to November 1 allowed for the disposal of 84,500 tons of uncontained waste at Site A and 208,500 waste barrels at Site B, of which 55,000 barrels contained chlorinated hydrocarbons. By July 1973, four companies with plants at 7 locations were using Sites A and B (NAS, 1975).

Nearly all of the ocean dumping that takes place today is dredged materials at the hands of the Corps of Engineers and due to the fact that they are the entity primarily responsible for the dredging, they issue permits for ocean dumping of such materials.[3][13] The dredged materials are sediments removed from the bottom of water bodies, but before they are dumped in the ocean, they must be evaluated to ensure that they are not harmful to human health or to the marine environment.[3][13]

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, ecosystems, or economic potentialities."[14] The Secretary of the Army (through the Corps of Engineers) 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 sewage sludge dumping at the "106-Mile Site" offshore of New Jersey ended in 1992.[15]

In order for anyone to dump on US waters, they must follow certain laws. Public Law 97-424, enacted in 1983, placed a 2-year prohibition on ocean dumping of any low-level radioactive waste. Public Law 100-688 terminated the dumping of sewage sludge and waste from industrial companies (commencing with the 270th day after November 18, 1988) under certain conditions.[14] After December 31, 1991, it was prohibited to dump any type of sewage sludge and industrial waste. This law gives EPA the authority to issue emergency permits for the dumping of industrial waste into ocean waters if an unacceptable human health risk exists and no other alternative is available.

[14] Statutes authorizing appropriations to implement Title I were enacted annually through 1977 and, thereafter, in 1980, 1981, and 1988. The 1988 amendments authorized appropriations of $12 million for Title I for each of Fiscal Years 1989 through 1991.

Title II - Research Programs

Title II of the Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)) to coordinate a research and monitoring program with the EPA and the United States Coast Guard. The NOAA conducts general research on ocean resources and is responsible for research on the effects of ocean dumping, pollution, overfishing, and other issues caused by humans that cause changes in the marine ecosystem.[3][13] The EPA's research is related to the phasing out of ocean disposal activities and its role includes conducting research, surveys, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, and studies to aid in their search for dumping alternatives.[3][3]

[13] 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" and to conduct the research required to find 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.

Statutes providing authority for appropriations were enacted in 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1986 and 1988. Public Law 100-627 authorized appropriations of $13.5 million for Title II for Fiscal Year 1989, and $14.5 million for Fiscal Year 1990.

Title III - Marine Sanctuaries

Title III allows the Secretary of Commerce to designate discrete areas as National Marine Sanctuaries after conferring with the heads of involved federal agencies and state and local governments, as appropriate.[4][16] The establishment of these sanctuaries is important in helping to promote comprehensive management of their special conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic resources.[4] The importance and primary objective of a sanctuary is to protect its features and allow the ocean to be used in a natural and sustainable way.[4] Sanctuaries provide a safe haven for endangered species, or those close to extinction, while also serving educational purposes for students and researchers alike to promote understanding and stewardship of our oceans.[4]

Public Law 96-332 provides that any marine sanctuary designation will not be effective if the Governor of an affected state finds it unacceptable, or if Congress form a concurrent of dissproval (must occur within 60 days). The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to withdraw the designation after any such State or Congressional disapproval. If the designation is not withdrawn, only the portion certified as acceptable can take effect.

Title IV - Regional Marine Research Programs

Title IV of the MPRSA established nine regional marine research boards for the purpose of developing comprehensive marine research plans, considering water quality and ecosystem conditions and research and monitoring priorities and objectives in each region.[3] The plans, after approval by the NOAA and EPA, are to guide NOAA in awarding research grants funds under this title of the act.[3][3] The Regional Marine Research Act was enacted in recognition of the value of the Nation's coastal marine waters and the need for regional research to safeguard their quality and health. The main focus of this program is to establish regional marine research programs around the country and to provide sustained federal funding for planned research within each region.[3] Five Major Sections of the Gulf of Maine Regional Marine Research Program: 1. An overview of marine environmental quality in the region. 2. An inventory of current research activities. 3. A statement of the research needs and priorities within the context of a 10-year goal. 4. An assessment of how the plan will incorporate existing research and management in the region 5. A description and schedule of the research objectives for the region during the 4-year period covered by the plan.

Title V - National Coastal Monitoring System

Title V launched a national coastal water quality monitoring program that directs the EPA and NOAA together to implement a long-term program to collect and analyze scientific data on the environmental quality of coastal ecosystems, including ambient water quality, health and quality of living resources, sources of environmental degradation, and data on trends.[3] Results of these actions are used to provide the information required to devise and execute effective programs under the Clean Water Act and Coastal Zone Management Act.[3]

Amendments

In 1977, Congress amended the Act to require that dumping of municipal sewage sludge or industrial wastes, which unreasonably degrade the environment, to cease by December 1981.[13] Because that deadline was not achieved, amendments were passed in 1988 that extended the deadline to December 1991.[13] In 1986 amendments, Congress directed that ocean disposal of all wastes end at the traditional 12-mile site off the New York/New Jersey coast and that they be moved to a new site 106 miles offshore.[13] Congress amended the Act again in 1992, giving permission to states to adopt ocean dumping standards more stringent than federal standards and to require that permits conform with long-term management plans for designated dumpsites.[13] This amendment was put into place to ensure that permitted activities are consistent with expected uses of the site.[13]

Table 2. Ocean Dumping Act and Amendments (codified as 33 U.S.C. 1401-1445, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1447f, 33 U.S.C. 2801-2805).[12]
Year Act Public Law Number
1972 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act P.L. 92-532
1974 London Dumping Convention Implementation P.L. 93-254
1977 Authorization of appropriations P.L. 95-153
1980 Authorization of appropriations P.L. 96-381
1980 Authorization of appropriations P.L. 96-572
1982 Surface Transportation Assistance Act P.L. 97-424
1986 Budget Reconciliation P.L. 99-272, §§6061-6065
1986 Water Resources Development Act P.L. 99-662, §§21 1, 728, 1172
1987 Water Quality Act of 1987 P.L. 100-4, §508
1988 Ocean dumping research amendments P.L. 100-627, title I
1988 Ocean Dumping Ban Act P.L. 100-688, title I
1988 U.S. Public Vessel Medical Waste Anti-Dumping P.L. 100-688, title III Act of 1988
1990 Regional marine research centers P.L. 101-593, title III
1992 National Coastal Monitoring Act P.L. 102-567, title V
1992 Water Resource Development Act P.L. 102-580, §§504-510

Enforcement

The violation of a permit or permit requirement carries a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 per violation that is assessed by the EPA.[3][13] The organization is also authorized to assess criminal penalties that carry fines up to $250,000, 5 years in prison, or both for violations of the act.[3][13] Additionally, fines are assessed for ocean dumping of medical wastes that carry the same penalties previously listed.[3][13] Like many other federal environmental laws, the Ocean Dumping Act allows individuals to bring a citizen suit in U.S. district court against any person, including the United States, for violation of a permit or other prohibition, limitation, or criterion issued under title I of the Act.[3][13]

Under certain circumstances, each of the states is permitted to regulate ocean dumping in waters within their own jurisdiction.[12] The Ocean Dumping Act requires that the EPA Administrator applies the standards and criteria binding upon the United States that are stated in the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters.[12] During this convention, more than 85 countries agreed in the prohibition of dumping in the ocean the next elements: mercury, cadmium and other substances such as DDT and PCBs, solid wastes and persistent plastics, oil, high-level radioactive wastes, and chemical and biological warfare agents; and requires special permits for other heavy metals, cyanides and fluorides, and medium- and low-level radioactive wastes.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Pub.L. 92–532, 86 Stat. 1052, enacted October 23, 1972. Full statute is at 86 Stat. 1052 and 1061. Titles I and II are codified at 33 U.S.C. § 1401-1445. Title III is codified at 16 U.S.C. § 1431-1445.
  2. ↑ U.S. Senate. "Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972" (PDF). (Full text)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Claudia Copeland. Cong. Bill. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 1999.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Office of Health, Safety and Security - Home. Web. 09 Nov. 2011.
  5. 1 2 Other Laws to Protect Your Watershed. River Network. Web. 09 Nov. 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mitchell, Jon (July 27, 2013). "A drop in the ocean: the sea-dumping of chemical weapons in Okinawa". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  7. ↑ http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/mprsa_before.cfm
  8. ↑ http://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P1004XOT.PDF
  9. ↑ Offshore Dumping Grounds, at NJ scuba diving website, accessed 11/11/07.
  10. ↑ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/07/27/general/exclusive-red-hats-lethal-okinawa-smokescreen/#at_pco=cfd-1.0&at_ord=0
  11. 1 2 3 http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2013/07/agent-orange-okinawa-japan-operation-red-hat-2497316.html
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Copelan, Claudia. Ocean Dumping Act: A Summary of the Law. Web. May 9, 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, United States. Encyclopedia of Earth. Web. 09 Nov. 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 MPRSA sec. 2(b), 33 U.S.C. § 1401(b).
  15. ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Washington, DC (1995). "Monitoring, Research, and Surveillance of the 106-Mile Deepwater Municipal Dump Site and Environs. Report to Congress. Document no. EPA-842-R-95-001. p. iii.
  16. ↑ NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries: Oceans, Marine Life, Shipwrecks, Diving, Whales, Voyage to Discovery. Web. 09 Nov. 2011.

External links

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