Legal Authorities
The United States of America has enacted a suite of laws to address the degradation of our natural environment. Some of these specifically authorize NOAA to act on behalf of the public when natural resources are injured. In carrying out our responsibilities as a natural resource trustee, we also adhere to other relevant laws, as well as direction provided by Executive Orders and guidance documents.
Title | Enacted | Link |
---|---|---|
Clean Water Act | 1972 | Text of the Clean Water Act |
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund) | 1980 | Text of CERCLA |
National Marine Sanctuaries Act | 1988 | Text of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act |
Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 | 1990 | Text of the Oil Pollution Act |
OPA NRDA Regulations | 1996 | Text of OPA NRDA Regulations |
CERCLA NRDA Regulations | 2008 | Text of CERCLA NRDA Regulations |
Title | Enacted | Link |
---|---|---|
Compensation Formulas | 1996 | Oil Pollution Act Guidance: Compensation Formulas |
Restoration Planning | 1996 | Oil Pollution Act Guidance: Restoration Planning |
Preassessment | 1996 | Oil Pollution Act Guidance: Preassessment |
Injury Asessment | 1996 | Oil Pollution Act Guidance: Injury Assessment |
Primary Restoration | 1996 | Oil Pollution Act Guidance: Primary Restoration |
Title | Enacted | Link |
---|---|---|
Federal Advisory Committee Final Report | 2007 | Federal Advisory Committee Final Report |
Guidance for Recognition and Use of Restoration Banks in Natural Resource Damage Assessments | 2016 |
Title | Enacted | Link |
---|---|---|
Rivers and Harbors Act | 1899 | Text of Rivers and Harbors Act |
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act | 1934 | Text of Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act |
Anadromous Fish Conservation Act | 1965 | Text of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act |
National Environmental Policy Act | 1970 | Text of the National Environmental Policy Act |
Coastal Zone Management Act | 1972 | Text of the Coastal Zone Management Act |
Marine Mammal Protection Act | 1972 | Text of Marine Mammal Protection Act |
Endangered Species Act | 1973 | Text of Endangered Species Act |
Park System Resource Protection Act | 1990 | Text of Park System Resource Protection Act |
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) | 1994 | Text of NCP |
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act | 2007 | Text of Magnuson-Stevens Act |