countries so that the latter may benefit from advances in the marine 

 sciences. 



The United States is prepared to explore practical means whereby 

 technical assistance can be improved in the field of marine science 

 education and technology transfer. We have indicated our 

 willingness, in principle, to commit funds to support multilateral 

 efforts in all appropriate international agencies with a view towards 

 creating and enlarging the ability of developing states to interpret 

 and use scientific data for their economic benefit and other purposes. 



Marine Pollution 



International recognition of increasingly serious ocean pollution 

 has stimulated the development of treaties and regulations to control 

 dumping at sea and to prevent ship collisions and ensuing cargo and 

 fuel release. By participating in the development of these regulations 

 the United States and other nations hope to improve protection of the 

 marine environment. 



One of the recommendations of the Stockholm Conference was to 

 convene a conference on ocean dumping with a view toward drawing 

 up a treaty. Such an intergovernmental conference was held in 

 London, October 30-November 13, 1972, and succeeded in com- 

 pleting an Ocean Dumping Convention. Extensive preparatory work 

 for the Conference was accomplished by an Intergovernmental 

 Working Group on Marine Pollution at meetings held in Reykjavik in 

 April 1972 and London in May 1972. 



The Ocean Dumping Convention regulates the dumping of wastes 

 at sea from vessels, aircraft, platforms, and other man-made 

 structures when the wastes are not derived from the normal 

 operations of such craft. The dumping of certain hazardous 

 materials, high-level radioactive wastes, persistent synthetics, 

 chemical and biological warfare agents, and oil taken aboard vessels 

 for the purpose of dumping is prohibited. An exception to this 

 prohibition is allowed only in emergencies posing unacceptable 

 risks to human health and admitting no other feasible solution. The 

 dumping of other wastes is to be regulated by means of national 

 permit systems created under domestic legislation by each of the 

 Contracting Parties to the Convention. 



The Convention was opened for signature on December 29, 1972 at 

 Washington, Mexico City, London, and Moscow. After fifteen 

 nations have ratified the convention, a meeting of the Parties will be 

 held to establish organizational procedures and to select an existing 

 international organization to carry out secretariat duties. President 

 Nixon in his Environmental Message to Congress in February 1973 

 requested the Senate to advise and consent to the Convention. 



During 1972, the United States played a leading role within the 

 Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO). 

 The organization is attempting to deal in a comprehensive way with 



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