Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972

1. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 By: Adrie Roth 7th period

2. Reasons for Creation • Also called the Ocean Dumping Act, it was passed to control disposal of waste in sea. • Meant to regulate and control the health of our oceans. • Between 1973 and 1974 there was a total increase of about 2.1 million tons from 1973 to 1974. in ocean dumping. • Made to comply to criteria of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, also called the London Convention,

3. Authorization • This Act was authorized in 1972 by the House and statutes for implementation were enacted each year until 1977 and after in 1980, 1981, and 1988. • Title three allowed the Secretary of Commerce to assign national marine sanctuaries based on certain criteria and required factors. It requires consulting different Federal agencies, Congressional committees, State agencies and regional fishery councils before a sanctuary could be designated.

4. Enforcement • EPA designates the acceptable dump sites. • Secretary of the Army authorizes dumping dredged material. • Ocean dumping is only allowed with a permit issued from the MPRSA. • Meant 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."

5. Funding • The 1988 amendments authorized appropriations of $12 million for Title I for each of Fiscal Years 1989 through 1991. • Congress provides funding for the act each year and to assist States, Territories, and Tribes in implementing approved programs to decrease the need for ocean dumping. • Mr. Agee, a key supporter, told the House committee that "...we have seen a major problem emerge which may have far-reaching effects not only on the ocean dumping permit program, but also on our entire environmental protection effort."

6. Other Facts • Dumping of radiological, chemical and biological warfare agents and high-level radioactive wastes has been completely forbidden, and everything else is now under strict control. • No dumping is allowed in the Pacific. Even so municipal sewage sludge is dumped in the ocean through outfall lines.

7. Sources • http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/marprot.html • http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/mprsa/01.htm • http://www.epa.gov/Region4/water/oceans/ • http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/OCPD/icnetbri.html • http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/mprsa/beyond.html • http://sosnews.org/pics/mustardgas-dumping.jpg • http://www.oceanspirits.ch/blog/ocean.jpg • http://www.treehugger.com/ocean-turtle.jpg • https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/images/groups/ogcGR_lg_bluewhale.jpg • http://www.hmascanberra.com.au/assets/images/general/seapics_fish_school.jpg