1998 Year of the Ocean Coastal Tourism and Recreation 



biological integrity of the nation's waters. The primary mechanism in the CWA regulating the 

 discharge of pollutants is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which 

 is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the NPDES program, a 

 permit is required from EPA or an authorized state for the discharge of any pollutant from a point 

 source into the waters of the United States. This includes discharges associated with oil and gas 

 development on federal leases beyond state waters. An NPDES permit for certain stormwater 

 discharges also is required. Permit discharge limits are technology-based and, where technology- 

 based limits would not protect desired water quality for a particular water body in which the 

 discharge takes place, based on state water quality standards, which are developed by the states 

 using EPA guidance and are intended to protect the designated uses of the water body. In the 

 case of discharges to the territorial sea or beyond, permits are also subject to the ocean discharge 

 criteria developed under section 403 of the act. Permits for discharges into the territorial sea or 

 internal waters may be issued by states following approval of their permit program by EPA; in 

 the absence of an approved state permit program, and for discharges beyond the territorial sea, 

 EPA is the permit-issuing authority. 



The CWA was amended in 1987 to include the current non-point source (NPS) program. Under 

 this program (section 3 1 9), states must develop management programs to address NPS runoff, 

 including the identification of best management practices and measures. In addition, section 319 

 authorizes grants to assist the states in implementing their approved management programs. 



The CWA generally prohibits discharges of oil and hazardous substances into coastal or ocean 

 waters except where permitted under the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International 

 Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 

 investigates and responds to discharges of oil and hazardous substances into coastal or ocean 

 waters in accordance with the National Contingency Plan (NCP). The USCG, with the 

 cooperation of EPA, generally administers the NCP when oil or a hazardous substance is 

 discharged into coastal or ocean waters. Regional contingency plans and area contingency plans 

 are developed to implement the NCP. 



The CWA (section 312) requires vessels with installed toilet facilities and operating on the 

 navigable waters of the U.S. to contain operable marine sanitation devices certified as meeting 

 standards and regulations promulgated under section 312. Section 312 also allows establishment 

 of zones where discharge of sewage from vessels is completely prohibited. Amendments made 

 to section 312 in 1996 will require, where appropriate, the use of marine pollution control 

 devices for operational, non-sewage, discharges from vessels of the Armed Forces. 



Publicly owned sewage treatment facilities must, at a minimum, meet effluent reductions by 

 secondary treatment, except for certain facilities discharging to coastal waters for which EPA has 

 approved a waiver under section 301(h). 



Section 320 of the CWA establishes the National Estuary Program, which uses a consensus- 

 based approach for protecting and restoring estuaries. There are currently 28 estuaries in the 

 program. 



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