Oil Pollution Act of 1924, United States
The Oil Pollution Act of 1924 prohibited the intentional release of fuel oil into U.S. navigable coastal waters, defined as an area within three-miles offshore. U.S. Congress passed the Act with the primary goal of protecting aquatic life; however, by the time of enactment, numerous disputes had significantly weakened the originally proposed Act. After Congress made the changes to the original proposal, the Act no longer pertained to discharges within inland navigable water, did not monitor (Environmental monitoring and assessment) onland polluters, and did not penalize ships for accidental spills. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers became responsible for monitoring these waters, but because of their limited manpower and authority, they had difficulty enforcing the statute. The Act did not require extensive record keeping or recording of any proceedings, making enforcement even more difficult. The Clean Water Act of 1972, which regulates all water sources, repealed the Oil Pollution Act.
Further Reading
- The Environmental Challenge (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Brief History (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
