Permits for disposal of dredged materials are issued by COE, on 

 the basis of EPA criteria for protection of human health and the marine 

 environment. Permits have only been issued in Largo Sound and Key West. 



While the disposal of trash and various materials from vessels is 

 not subject to EPA and COE authority, the agencies can regulate disposal 

 of other waste materials in the vicinity of Looe Key. 



5. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq . (ESA) 



Authority : Prohibit the taking of listed endangered and threatened species 

 and ensure that actions "authorized, funded or carried out by Federal agencies 

 do not jeopardize species or critical habitat." The purposes of the act are to 

 provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened 

 species depend may be conserved and to provide a program for the conservation 

 of such species. 



Although no listed endangered/threatened species have been identified 

 yet at Looe Key, the area contains a number of species considered endangered 

 or threatened by Florida. Furthermore, the area has been identified by 

 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as suitable habitat for the following 

 listed endangered species. 



Atlantic Green Turtle Chelonia mydas mydas - All coastal 



and marine habitats. 



Atlantic Hawksbill Turtle Erethmochelys imbricata imbricata - 



Primary reef habitats. 



Atlantic Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys kempi - All coastal 



and marine habitats. 



6. The Antiquities Act, 16 U,S.C. 1431 et seq, 



Under a recent court decision, the Antiquities Act, which provides that 

 the Department of the Interior may designate and protect certain historically 

 important sites, does not authorize such action in relation to antiquities 

 located on the OCS. The Abandoned Property Act, 40 U.S.C. 310, is similarly 

 limited. The National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq ., 

 offers protection for marine artifacts once listed but only with respect to 

 Federal or Federally supported activities. The historic shipwreck located 

 at Looe Key is not listed and, even if listed, would not be fully protected 

 from private activities. 



C. Enforcement Agencies with Authority in the Federal Waters of the 

 Looe Key Area 



1 . U.S. Coast Guard 



The Coast Guard, as established in 1915, is a military service and a 

 branch of the armed forces of the U S. Its overall authority, to enforce or 

 assist in the enforcement of applicable Federal laws on and under the high 

 seas and waters, comes from Title 14, USC 2. 



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