Civil Enforcement

• The Statute
• MPRSA Regulations
• MPRSA Enforcement
• Other Federal Laws and Regulations Relating to Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries
• State Laws and Regulations Relating to Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries

The Statute

Congress enacted the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) in 1972. The MPRSA was amended in 1988 by the Ocean Dumping Ban Act (Ocean Dumping Act). The MPRSA declared that it is the policy of the U.S. to regulate the dumping of all types of materials into ocean waters and to prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean waters of any material which would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. The Ocean Dumping Act makes unlawful the dumping of sludge and industrial waste.

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA); 33 U.S.C. s/s 1411, 1414b, 1415, and 1417.
MPRSA full text | Summary |

MPRSA Regulations

EPA has developed regulations relating to the implementation of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act which can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33, Chapter 27:
Subchapeter H - Ocean Dumping ( 40 C.F.R. Parts 224 )

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MPRSA Enforcement

EPA may issue an order to any person or company who violates the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. The order may impose a civil penalty plus recovery of any economic benefit of noncompliance and may also require correction of the violation.

• Who must comply with the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act?

Any 'person' discharging a pollutant into the ocean. A 'person' is defined as any private person, employee, agent, department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State or local unit of government, or of any foreign government.

• What are the penalties for noncompliance?

Under Section 105 of the MPRSA, EPA may assess an administrative civil penalty up to $50,000 against a person who violates the Act, it regulations, or a MPRSA permit. There are higher penalties (up to $125,000) for dumping medical waste. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.

Related Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act Enforcement Information

MPRSA Enforceable Requirements

Other Information Sources

EPA's Office of Water - Oceans and Coastal Protection Information
EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
EPA's Water Enforcement Bulletin
Complete listing of "Enforcement Alert Newsletters"

Other Federal Laws and Regulations Relating to Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries

Clean Water Act of 1972 . This act has as its goal the overall protection and maintenance of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nations waters. ( Additional Information )

Oil Pollution Act of 1990 . This Act streamlined and strengthened EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund financed by a tax on oil is available to clean up spills when the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do so.

State Laws and Regulations Relating to Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries

This is a law at the federal level. States may not independently adopt regulations relating to activities covered by Title I of MPRSA (Section 106). However, states may propose ocean dumping criteria in addition to those of EPA. If the EPA Administrator does not find the new criteria to be inconsistent with the Act, the Administrator may then adopt those criteria and issue regulations to implement them. Only in this way can state-level criteria be brought to bear upon federal agency actions affected by Title I of MPRSA.

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