GULF OF MEXICO 



557 



FLORIDA 



Authorization to control water pollution is 

 vested in the State Board of Health by legislative 

 act (Ch. 381.43 and 387.08, Florida Statutes, 1941) 

 and is implied by the enabling act authorizing the 

 creation of a Sanitary Code by the State Board 

 of Health (Ch. 381.50, Florida Statutes, 1941). 

 Two other State agencies have limited authority 

 in this field. The Commission of Game and Fresh- 

 water Fish has the power and authority to enforce 

 the prohibition against the placing of certain dele- 

 terious substances or forces into fresh waters 

 whereby fish are or may be injured. The State 

 Board of Conservation is given authority to pro- 

 mulgate regulations to prevent action in one water- 

 shed area or location which will adversely affect 

 the surface or underground water supply in 



another area. 



ALABAMA 



Responsibility for water pollution control activ- 

 ities in Alabama is vested largely in the Water 

 Improvement Commission with comprehensive 

 powers of enforcement, including the issuance of 

 permits for the discharge of waste into the waters 

 of the State. The State Department of Health 

 has general authority with respect to enforcement 

 of laws relating to public health and specific au- 

 thority with respect to protection of drinking 

 water. The State Department of Health also has 

 responsibility for cooperating with the Water 

 Improvement Commission in conducting investi- 

 gations, inspections, and related activities. 



MISSISSIPPI 



Water pollution control is administered in Mis- 

 sissippi by two State agencies. The State Board 

 of Health has authority to control water pollution 

 through its general public health powers. The 

 Game and Fish Commission has pollution control 

 powers which specifically include the authority to 

 hold hearings, issue regulations and final orders, 

 and provide for judicial review of such orders, 

 and is enabled to control pollution for the pro- 

 tection of game, fish, and wildlife. 



LOUISIANA 



Authority in Louisiana relating to water pollu- 

 tion control is vested in the Stream Control Com- 

 mission, State Board of Health, and Louisiana 

 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The 



Stream Control Commission has the general power 

 and duty of administering all pollution control 

 laws of the State that are broad and comprehen- 

 sive. It may adopt standards, make investiga- 

 tions, hold hearings, and has enforcement powers. 

 The State Board of Health has pollution control 

 authority relating to public health. The Depart- 

 ment of Wildlife and Fisheries enforces the Com- 

 mission's orders, rules and regulations relative to 

 pollution. 



TEXAS 



Water-pollution-control authority is vested in 

 the State Board of Health and the Game and Fish 

 Commission. The Oflice of the Attorney General 

 acts as legal counsel to the enforcement agencies. 

 TLe General Land Office, in cooperation with 

 the Game and Fish Commission, establishes 

 rules and regulations to prevent pollution on 

 State-owned lands including tidelands. The State 

 Board of Health has general pollution-abatement 

 functions with specific emphasis on public-health 

 aspects. The State Board of Health may set 

 standards for drinking water, may review plans 

 and specifications, make investigations, and hold 

 hearings. Enforcement is by writ of injunction 

 under civil statute and fines under penal code as 

 issued by court. The Game and Fish Commission 

 deals with matters protecting fish and oysters. 

 A Water Pollution Advisory Council serves as a 

 consultative and advisory body to other agencies, 

 affected groups and industries. 



FEDERAL-STATE SHELLFISH CONTROL 

 PROGRAM 



The sea-food products most affected by pollu- 

 tion of tidal waters, particularly from the public- 

 health point of view, are the edible bivalve mol- 

 lusks, oysters, clams, and mussels. During feed- 

 ing these mollusks may retain from the overlying 

 waters any pathogenic organisms which may be 

 present along with their normal food materials. 

 Since the commercially valuable edible mollusks 

 are fixed by biological factors to those waters 

 along the coast which are more or less diluted by 

 fresh-water runoff from adjacent land bodies, it is 

 obvious that some pollution of these shellfish- 

 growing beds is unavoidable. 



Adequate administrative controls over shell- 

 fish production must exist if outbreaks of typhoid 

 fever and other enteric diseases carried by shell- 



