Although the control of ocean dumping is a well-justified, major 

 goal, an even more serious threat to the marine environment is posed 

 by the discharge of pollutants from ships and shore facilities. This 

 problem is now receiving concentrated attention. 



The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments authorize 

 EPA to regulate major industrial, municipal, and other point 

 discharges of pollutants. The scope of activities regulated under the 

 permit authority of the act is wide, and the eventual impact on the 

 marine environment will be significant. Some 45,000 of the Nation's 

 300,000 industrial water users will be subject to direct permit 

 regulation. Municipal waste treatment sources are also point 

 sources at which this pollution control program is aimed. 

 Approximately 20,000 communities will be affected. Discharges 

 from agricultural sources are, under certain circumstances, subject 

 to the new permit authority. For example, discharges reaching 

 surface water of the concentrated animal wastes from confined 

 feedlots may require permits, as do irrigation return flows when 

 discharged from channels, drains, or other conduits. Acid mine 

 drainage from both surface and subsurface coal mines, where such 

 drainage is from discrete conveyances, may also be regulated. 



Regulations were formulated in 1973 to control discharges from 

 publicly owned sewage treatment works. EPA has also prepared 

 guidelines for the issuance of discharge permits for 9 specific toxic 

 pollutants and 27 categories of industrial operations. Under the 

 program July 1, 1977 and July 1, 1983 are the dates by which different 

 levels of treatment based on technology are to be implemented. For 

 all discharges other than those from publicly owned treatment 

 works, effluent limitations are to be met and the best practicable 

 control technology currently available must be applied. At the same 

 time, all publicly owned waste treatment facilities must include 

 secondary treatment, and if an industrial discharger sends wastes 

 through a publicly owned treatment works, certain pretreatment 

 standards must be met. An additional requirement is that by the July 

 1977 date, effluent limitations may be imposed in accordance with 

 State law. Not later than July 1, 1983, effluent dischargers will be 

 required to use the best available, economically achievable, 

 pretreatment technology, and publicly owned waste treatment 

 facilities will be required to apply the best practicable waste 

 treatment technology. Special standards for toxic substances must 

 also be observed by both 1977 and 1983. 



The development of offshore petroleum and mineral resources 

 with minimal pollution is a primary objective of the U.S. Geological 

 Survey's (USGS] Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lease-management 

 program. As part of this program, operating orders and procedures 

 are specifically drafted for each region of development. The orders 



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