73 
B. Federal Interests and Responsibilities 
The initial effects of environmental deterioration are being 
felt along coastal areas particularly those adjacent to large urban 
centers. Efforts to halt and reverse this degradation are largely 
a Federal initiative. The question remains as to whether or not 
the Federal Government has sufficient authority and is taking 
effective leadership. 
Regulation of ocean disposal practices in territorial waters is 
accomplished under the Refuse Act of 1899, the 1888 Supervisory Act, 
the 1905 River and Harbor Act, and the Federal Water Pollution Con- 
trol Act, as amended. The first three Acts are administered by the 
Corps of Engineers, the last by the Federal Water Quality Adminis- 
tration. 
The water quality standards mandated by the Water Quality Act 
of 1965 provide the principal criteria for controlling ocean dis- 
posal practices within territorial waters. Such water quality 
standards have been established by the States subject to review 
and approval by the Secretary of the Interior. Approved standards 
are both State and-Federal standards, enforceable under the State 
water pollution control statutes and the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act, as amended (Section 10). They provide limits on 
floating, suspended, and settled solids, bacterial quality, pH, 
toxicants, and other pollutants and these limits dictate the degree 
of treatment and nature of disposal necessary to protect water 
“users and quality in the territorial waters. 
Beyond the territorial sea, authority to enforce pollution laws 
applicable to U.S. nationals is assigned to the Coast Guard (see 
pages 52 and 53). The authority apparently applies only to vessels 
carrying oil. No Federal agency has authority to completely regu- 
late or control waste disposal operations beyond the territorial 
sea. Indeed, as the Table in Appendix 4 shows, some of the Federal 
roles, as presently understood, are overlapping with no clear-cut 
idea as to lead agency responsibility. As noted elsewhere, the 
Corps of Engineers, on occasion, accepted responsibility for proc- 
essing applications for disposal of wastes at sea. These applica- 
tions are reviewed and commented upon by other interested Federal, 
State, and local agencies. However, there are no specific guide- 
lines and water quality criteria beyond the territorial sea to 
serve as a basis for any substantive review. Occasionally, a 
review may lead to relocation of a proposed disposal site, or 
alternative procedures. Few applications are ever denied beyond 
the 3-mile limit even though public health or conservation groups 
may oppose them, simply because of lack of explicit regulations 
and guidelines. 
50 
