CHAPTER 8
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Several laws have been enacted in the past to
control both air and water pollution, but, for
various reasons, they were largely ineffective.
With increased awareness, however, that our
ecological system was seriously endangered by
pollution, Congress on 1 January 1970 passed the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and
followed in April with the Environmental Quality
Improvement Act of 1970. In these two Acts Con-
gress declared a national policy for enhancement
of environmental quality and assigned respon-
sibilities for carrying out this policy.
Briefly, these Acts require the Federal Govern-
ment, in cooperation with State and local govern-
ments, to use all practicable means to create and
maintain conditions for a compatible existence
between humans and nature. Each Federal depart-
ment or agency involved in any action that affects
the environment is required to observe all existing
laws governing the control of pollution. All future
construction is to be designed with pollution con-
trol in mind.
POLLUTION CONTROL
REGULATIONS
In 1899 Congress passed a law prohibiting the
discharge of refuse in navigable waters of the
United States. The Oil Pollution Act of 1924 pro-
hibited the discharge of oil of any kind (fuel oil,
sludge, oily wastes, etc.) into the navigable waters.
These Acts formed the basis for Article 1272,
Navy Regulations 1948, which forbids the
discharge of oil or refuse into inland or coastal
waters. The Oil Pollution Act of 1961 prohibits
the discharge of oil or oily mixtures, such as
ballast, within specific zones bordering coastal na-
tions. These prohibited zones extend a minimum
of 50 miles seaward from the nearest land and out
to 150 miles in some areas. Most countries border-
ing the Mediterranean Sea, for example, have a
zone of 100 miles; the Australian zone extends 150
miles around most of the continent. Although this
Act does not specifically apply to naval vessels,
its provisions were incorporated into Article 1272
the following year. (The Act of 1961 is a ratifica-
tion of an international agreement known as the
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the
Sea by Oil, 1954. Proposed amendments would
abolish prohibited zones and extend oil dumping
prohibitions to all ocean areas).
The Oil Pollution Act of 1924 was repealed
by the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970
(Public Law 91-224). (The Acts of 1899 and 1961
remain in effect, as does Article 1272 of Navy
Regulations.) This Act prohibits the noncasualty
discharge of any type of oil from any vessel, on-
shore facility, or offshore facility, into or upon
navigable waters of the United States, adjoining
shorelines, or waters of the contiguous zone (12
miles). Other features of the Act provide for the
control of hazardous substances other than oil and
for the control of sewage discharges from vessels.
The Clean Air Amendments of 1970 (Public
Law 91-604) set goals for the reduction of pollu-
tant emissions from stationary sources and from
motor vehicles. New stationary sources that burn
fossil fuels must conform to emission standards
as determined and promulgated by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA).
Guidelines for preventing, controlling, and
abating air and water pollution are contained in
the Navys environmental quality program, OP-
NAV Instruction 6240.3. In general, the Navy is
charged with ensuring that all facilities (ships, air-
craft, shore activities, vehicles, etc.) are de-
signed, operated, and maintained in conformance
with standards set forth in the two Acts. Some
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