environmental damage from spills, and methods to recover spilled 

 materials and accelerate restoration of damaged water courses. 



Regulatory programs of EPA also provide direct support for 

 marine science and engineering activities. Activities conducted in 

 this category include the review of environmental impact 

 statements, the establishment of water quality standards, the 

 review of waste disposal permits, the implementation of plans to 

 abate and control oil and hazardous industrial spills, the planned 

 implementation of an ocean dumping permit program, and special 

 field investigations for enforcement actions. 



The major function of the Environmental Impact Statement 

 Program is to review Environmental Impact Statements submitted 

 by other Federal agencies. Impact statements are reviewed to ensure 

 that water quality standards and water-related resource 

 requirements are met, to insure that alternative actions have been 

 properly considered, and to assess potential damage to the 

 environment. Although statements on proposed projects throughout 

 the Nation are reviewed, only that part of the program related to the 

 coastal zone and the Great Lakes is included in the budgetary report. 



The Water Quality Standards Program is operated in conjunction 

 with the States and develops water quality criteria applicable to 

 navigable waters. Plans for implementation and enforcement of the 

 criteria are developed, and water quality standards based on 

 consideration of their use for fish and wildlife, recreational, 

 agricultural, and industrial purposes are established. 



The Oil and Hazardous Material Implementation Program 

 develops plans, operating procedures, and personnel training 

 methods. It conducts operations for the surveillance, containment 

 and removal of spilled oil and hazardous materials. EPA's program is 

 a part of the National Contingency Plan for the control of oil and 

 hazardous material spills. This plan provides for a coordinated 

 response by departments and agencies of the Federal Government to 

 protect the environment from the damaging effects of pollutant 

 spills. 



Department of State 



The Department of State, with the assistance of departments and 

 agencies of the Federal Government possessing responsibilities 

 relating to the oceans, formulates and implements United States 

 policy in international ocean affairs. The Department conducts 

 negotiations with foreign governments on international ocean 

 affairs problems on bilateral and multilateral bases, and within the 

 forums of international organizations. 



The Department is engaged in preparations for the Law of the Sea 

 Conference, which is presently scheduled to begin its substantive 

 work in April 1974 under the auspices of the United Nations. A series 

 of preparatory sessions for the Conference have considered issues 



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