Summary of the Shore Protection Act
33 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. (1988)
Title IV of the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 created the Shore Protection Act of 1988 (SPA), which prohibits the transportation of municipal or commercial waste within coastal waters by a vessel without a permit and number or other marking. Permits are not to run beyond renewable five-year terms and will terminate when the vessel is sold.
EPA, in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard, is responsible for developing regulations governing the loading, securing, offloading, and cleaning up of such wastes from waste sources, reception facilities, and vessels. The goals of the regulations are to minimize deposit of waste into coastal waters during vessel loading, transport, and unloading, and to ensure that any deposited waste is reported and cleaned up.
History of this Act
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The Office of Water (OW) ensures drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. OW implements portions of the Shore Protection Act.