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ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS JAN. -DEC. 1978 ON ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH, AND SANCTUARIES ACT OF 1972, AS AMENDED (P.L. 92-532) AND IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL OCEAN DUMPING CONVENTION
Citation:
ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS JAN. -DEC. 1978 ON ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH, AND SANCTUARIES ACT OF 1972, AS AMENDED (P.L. 92-532) AND IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL OCEAN DUMPING CONVENTION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1979.
Description:
This report highlights the progress in implementing an ocean dumping permit program for five years. It also presents the activities for calendar year 1978. Highlighted activities are presented for each calendar year since the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act became effective, April 23, 1973. The annual tables are included as well. 1. List of Permittees on schedule to phase out ocean dumping. 2. Types and amounts of materials dumped in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978 reported for the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. 3. List of permits denied or phased out. 4. A separate list for those permittees phased out in Region II. 5. A table of sites needing EIS’s and site designation surveys. 6. Table of Enforcement Actions taken. In January 1978 EPA obtained the surplus Navy ship, the USS Antelope and began its conversion to an ocean survey vessel. This action was taken because of the amount of survey work needed for offshore ocean dumping site designations, and to improve timeliness and cost-effectiveness of the surveys. The EPA also conducted radioactive waste dumpsite surveys at the Farallon Islands 900m and 1700m locations, and at the Atlantic 3800m dumpsite. Bioassays and other research efforts are underway to assess the impacts of disposal in the marine environment, largely spearheaded by the Office of Research and Development and the program office. The 1976 Bioassay manual was updated in 1978. Methods include bioassays for fish, macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton. In addition, life cycle bioassays and culture methods were developed for Menidia menidia, the Atlantic silversides. Because of concerns about incineration at sea, the London Dumping Convention addressed ocean incineration. Included in this report is the complete Incineration at Sea Resolution adopted on 12 October 1978 at the London Dumping convention which provides for an Ad Hoc group to prepare Technical Guidelines for the Control of Incineration of Wastes and Other Matter at Sea. Technical Regulations for the Control of Incineration of Wastes and Other Matter at Sea are also included.