Fish and Wildlife Service interests might be alerted by the license 

 application. FWS provides comments to the Deepwater Ports Board of the 

 USCG on an application and submits joint comments with the Department of 

 Commerce to review potential natural resource alterations and project 

 options to reduce or mitigate these impacts. FWS would also be involved 

 through additional nearshore and onshore permits described elsewhere in 

 this section, 



3.4.3 Tanker Operations 



The U.S. Coast Guard is primarily responsible for surveillance and 

 enforcement of safety and operating guidelines and regulations for tanker 

 operations in U.S. waters. These are defined in considerable detail in the 

 Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 33, Part 155, and Volume 46, Chapter 1. 

 United States flag vessels and foreign flag vessels in U.S. domestic trade 

 exceeding 150 tons are included under these provisions. Other regulatory 

 authorities are outlined in Table 13 



Oil spills from tankers fall under the Comprehensive Oil Pollution 

 Liability and Compensation Act of 1975 which establishes a basis for 

 liability for owners and operators of tankers and sets specific maximum 

 amounts for liability. 



3.4.4 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 



The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 set goals 

 of "swimmable" waters throughout the United States by 1983 and no discharge 

 of pollutants into U.S. waters by 1985. Under this program permits, 

 referred to as NPDES permits, are required for certain new sources of 

 water pollution. The program is organized by category of source. 

 National standards are set for each category [177], 



The law allows the program to be delegated to states under the 

 supervision of the Federal EPA. In 1977, 28 states had qualified to 

 assume the implementation role from EPA [178]. 



The Environmental Impact Assessment process applies to these permits, 

 but with a special set of rules that excludes permits for existing 

 facilities. The FWS review is limited by the number of personnel required 

 for review and extensive expertise in chemical pollutants among its field 

 biologists. The Service does pay particular attention to thermal 

 discharges or other unusual discharge characteristics with direct 

 implications for fish and wildlife resources and their habitat. It may 

 coordinate its comments with EPA and state agencies when difficult 

 questions of this type arise, to join them in pressing for project 

 modifications. 



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