Problems Relating to the Environment in 1971. The U.N. General As- 

 sembly plans to convene in Sweden in 1972 a U.N. Conference on The 

 Problems of the Human Environment, which will include issues related 

 to marine pollution. IMCO plans an international conference to consider 

 reducing ship contamination in 1973. 



In the United States recently, concern about the environment and marine 

 pollution has heightened. It has been reflected not only in increased public 

 discussion but also in governmental initiatives and new legislative propos- 

 als. Some of the major milestones of U.S. legislation creating policy and 

 regulatory authority for preservation of the marine environment are listed 

 in table 1 1-2. At the Federal level a large number of agencies have important 

 responsibilities for coastal development through such varied functions as 

 water quality planning and enforcement; waste management; control of 

 beach erosion; improvement of ports, harbors and waterways; conserva- 

 tion; provision of nautical charts and sea and storm prediction; acquisition 

 and development of recreational lands and waters; enforcement of mari- 

 time safety ; shellfish culture sanitation ; assisting commercial and sport fish- 

 ing; and development of scientific understanding of the coastal ecology. 

 Major Federal agencies active in the field and their programs are described 

 in chapter III. 



Table 11-2 — Selected U.S. Milestones in Preserving the Marine 



Environment 



Year Legislation and governmental initiatives 



1899 River and Harbor Act. Prohibited (1) discharge or deposit of refuse into 



any navigable waters, except that which flowed from streets and sewers 

 in a liquid state; (2) excavation or filling in navigable waters; (3) con- 

 struction of piers, dams, bridges, and similar works in harbors and 

 navigable waters without permit from the Secretary of the Army acting 

 through the Chief of Engineers. 



1912 Public Health Service Act. Authorized surveys and studies of water pollution, 



particularly as it affected human health. 



1924 Oil Pollution Act. Prohibited oil discharges, damaging to aquatic life, 



harbors and docks and recreation, into the territorial sea and navigable 

 inland waters. 



1930 River and Harbor Act. Authorized the Chief of Engineers under the 



direction of the Secretary of the Army to make investigations and 

 cooperative studies with States for the purpose of preventing erosion of 

 coastal and Great Lakes shores by waves and currents. 



1945 Executive Order 9634. Provides for establishing fishery conservation zones 



in areas of the high seas contiguous to the coasts of the United States 

 and allows for establishing marine wildlife sanctuaries as a fishery 

 conservation measure. 



1948 First Federal Water Pollution Control Act with a 5-year expiration date. 



1953 Federal Water Pollution Control Act extended for 3 years. 



Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Extended the Secretary of the Army's 

 jurisdiction concerning obstructions in navigable waters to include 

 artificial islands and fixed structures located on the Outer Continental 

 Shelf; authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to require the prevention 

 of pollution in offshore oil or mining operations; the Coast Guard 

 administers the act's safety provisions. 



25 



