Open AccessThe Refuse Act Permit Program and its Application to Mariculture
Author(s) -
Baumeister John W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
proceedings of the annual workshop ‐ world mariculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 1043-5166
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1972.tb00046.x
Subject(s) - business , wildlife , clean water act , receipt , agency (philosophy) , pollution prevention , environmental planning , government (linguistics) , environmental protection , mariculture , service (business) , fish <actinopterygii> , water quality , environmental science , environmental resource management , fishery , engineering , waste management , aquaculture , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , accounting , epistemology , marketing , biology
The Refuse Act Permit Program was created by Executive Order No. 11374 to broaden the Federal Government's role in abating pollution from industry and business. Applying the provisions of the 1899 River and Harbor Act, the program was created following court decisions whereby the Act was interpreted to require a permit for all waste discharges except municipal sewage and discharges from ships and other watercraft. All other dischargers including fish cultural operations fall under the broad purview of the Refuse Act. Upon receipt of a technically complete application, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State Water Pollution Control Agency evaluate the impact of the discharge on water quality, determine waste treatment needs, and develop conditions for inclusion in the Refuse Act Permit. In the Southeast Region of EPA, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fishery Service provide technical support to this effort to insure maximum protection of fish and wildlife resources. Fish cultural operations have been classified as a critical industry based on studies conducted by EPA policies. Procedures for processing applications in this category are currently being developed and should be finalized in the very near future.