41 
Convention on Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other 
Matter of 1972 
In June 1971 at a meeting of the International Working Group on 
Marine Pollution in London, the United States submitted a draft. 
convention for the regulation of ocean dumping intending to bring a 
revised international version before the Stockholm Conference in 
June 1972 for consideration and signing. However, this timetable 
could not be kept. A second preliminary meeting at Ottawa in Novem- 
ber 1971 developed a draft convention with input from several other 
nations, but there were further suggestions submitted for improve- 
ments leading to a third meeting in Reykjavik in April 1972. A draft 
Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping was 
prepared, but again there were certain objections from delegates. 
Two provisions of the Reykjavik Draft are of particular note: (1) 
parties ‘“‘with common interests to protect in the marine environment 
in a given geographical area should endeavor to enter into agreements 
on a regional level;” * and (2) the parties “recognize that in accord- 
ance with the principles of international law, States bear responsi- 
bility for damage to the environment of other States or to areas 
beyond the limits of national jurisdiction caused by dumping and 
undertake to develop procedures for the assessment of liability and 
for the settlement of disputes.’’ *$ . 
Another meeting was held in London in May 1972, but agreement 
still could not be reached. The Stockholm Conference recognized the 
draft convention, but no official action was taken to adopt it. Finally, 
the United Kingdom issued invitations to convene in London in 
October 1972 to take action on the draft convention. Representatives 
of 92 nations assembled, and the text of the Convention was finally 
agreed to on November 13, 1972, and opened for signature on Decem- 
ber 29, 1972. 
The objective of the Convention is to establish in all states similar 
regulations controlling the disposal of wastes and other matter at sea. 
In Articles I and II, parties pledge to promote effective marine pollu- 
tion control and to act individually and collectively in regulating 
ocean dumping. Article IV prohibits the dumping of any materials 
listed in Annex I (Appendix V) which includes oil and highly radio- 
active and toxic materials. A second annex lists substances requiring 
special care for which permits are required. Parties are to designate an 
appropriate authority to issue permits and keep records of matter 
dumped. A third annex lists factors to be considered in issuing permits 
such as the characteristics and composition of the matter, character- 
istics of the dumping site and method of deposit, and certain other 
general considerations. Enforcement of dumping regulations is the 
responsibility of each Party. 
The regulation of ocean dumping offers at best the management of 
approximately 10 percent of the pollutants entering the world’s 
oceans. This fraction is a significant step, however, toward the goal of 
international management of the common global resource. 
47 Report of the Intergovernmental Meeting on Ocean Dumping, adopted at Reykjavik, Iceland, April 15, 
1972. Doe IMOD/4. art. 7. 
48 Toid., art. 10. 
45-670—75——_4. 
