1998 Year of the Ocean Perspectives on Marine Environmental Quality 



requirement of preparation of an EIS. Based on the EA, if an action does not rise to that level, a 

 finding of no significant impact (FONSI) is made. 



National Marine Sanctuaries Act , as amended, (also known as Title III of the Marine Protection, 

 Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended), 16 U.S.C. §§ 1431 et seq. 



The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, authorizes the Department of Commerce to 

 designate as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine environment of special national 

 significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational or 

 aesthetic qualities. The Act provides authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation and 

 management of these marine areas. It provides for civil penalties for violation of the act or 

 regulations or permits issued under it and for civil suits to recover damages if sanctuary resources 

 are injured or destroyed. 



Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act , as amended, 16 U.S.C. §§ 4701 

 et seq. 



The Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act, as amended, directs the 

 Secretary of the department that houses the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) (currently the Department of 

 Transportation) to issue regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance 

 species into the Great Lakes through ballast water. These regulations are to be issued in 

 consultation with the Aquatic Nuisance Task Force, composed, inter alia , of the Under Secretary of 

 Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Commandant of the USCG and the 

 Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works). Civil and criminal penahies are available for regulatory 

 violations. 



The Act also requires the task force to implement a prevention, monitoring and control program for 

 aquatic nuisance species in U.S. waters. States can develop comprehensive aquatic nuisance species 

 management plans, which can be implemented with federal grants and financial assistance if the 

 plans are approved by the task force or the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). 



The act fiirther requires the Departments of Defense and Transportation to implement ballast water 

 management programs for seagoing Department of Defense and USCG vessels to minimize risk of 

 introduction of non-indigenous species from releases of ballast water. The act also requires the 

 Departments of the Interior and Commerce to conduct a ballast water management demonstration 

 program to demonstrate preventive technologies and practices. 



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