Protection 



In 1973, shortly after passage of the Marine Protection, Research, 

 and Sanctuaries Act, EPA's ocean disposal program became 

 operational with the issuance of regulations and criteria to govern 

 the ocean dumping of all wastes except dredge spoil, the disposal of 

 which is regulated by the Corps of Engineers. The main objective of 

 these regulations is to control the disposal of materials at sea while 

 seeking alternative disposal methods. 



In starting the program, EPA set very restrictive limitations on the 

 types of materials that can be dumped on a continuing basis so that 

 there would be reasonable assurance of negligible environmental 

 damage. At the same time, special interim permits for waste not 

 complying with the limitations were issued, and dump sites 

 presently in use were approved on an interim basis. Approximately 

 100 interim dumping permits were issued between May 1973 and 

 April 1974. The permits specify the conditions under which wastes 

 may be disposed of and provide information that is used in the 

 assessment of the environmental impact of dumping. 



Further phases of the program include full implementation of the 

 permit program on a continuing basis, the evaluation and approval 

 of some disposal sites for dumping on a continuing basis and 

 termination of dumping at others, and research and monitoring to 

 improve knowledge of the impact of ocean dumping and the ability to 

 regulate it effectively. Only general evidence is now available to 

 determine the impact of dumping on many of the sites. To minimize 

 the effects of waste materials on the environment, until sufficient 

 evidence is accumulated and guidelines are prepared on the Use of 

 individual sites, evaluation of permit applications can only be based 

 upon a consideration of the general characteristics of dump sites. 



EPA is also studying the restoration of water quality in polluted 

 coastal regions and developing predictive techniques to describe the 

 time and space distribution of pollutants as influenced by physical 

 transport and dispersion and by chemical and biological interaction 

 and transformations. 



The Corps of Engineers is carrying out a comprehensive program 

 of research and experimentation related to dredging and disposal of 

 dredged material. One of the major objectives of the Dredged 

 Material Research Program is to develop techniques for determining 

 and reducing the polluting effects of various dredged materials on 

 the marine environment. The program, which is expected to require 5 

 years to complete, is viewed as an investment that should yield 

 appreciable dividends in the form of methodology and technology 

 that will permit dredging operations to remain economically feasible 

 while simultaneously assuring maximum environmental protection. 



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