272,639,608 (July 1999 est.)
Land Space:
9,158,960 sq km km2
Coastal Area:
19,924 km
(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
United States
|
|
........in this page |
Country Contacts
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Ocean Service
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
USA
Phone: +1-301-713-3074; Fax: +1-301-4269
http://www.nos.noaa.govState of the Coast ReportNational Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
USA
Phone: +1-301-713 ; Fax: +1-301-713-
http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
201 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: +1-202-260-5700 ; Fax: +1-202-260-5711
http://www.epa.gov/watrhome
Department of Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Phone: +1-202-208-3100
http://www.doi.gov
Department of State
Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science
Washington, DC, 20520
http://www.state.gov/www/global/oes/index.html
(click on image to view larger size map)
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
SUMMARY OF OCEAN
AND COASTAL PROGRAMS
Many thanks are due to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the information below. The information was taken from the United State's submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: April 1997). For further information on social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures in the US see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for the US at
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/usa/index.htm
OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed but has not yet been ratified by the US. The Convention continues to serve as a comprehensive framework with respect to the uses of the oceans. It creates the structure for the governance and protection of all marine areas, including the air space above and the seabed and sub-soil below. The US signed the accompanying Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention on July 29, 1994, and intends to apply the Agreement provisionally pending ratification.
The National Security Council (NSC) Interagency Working Group on Global Environmental Affairs, including but not limited to all US maritime and coastal agencies, has primary responsibility for ensuring the integrated planning and implementation of costal management policy. The NSC is fully integrated in the President's Council on Sustainable Development. Major Groups have an advisory role in the national and local agenda-setting processes. These groups include the private sector, small-scale artisanal fishermen and indigenous people. The US Mineral Management Service coordinates with counterpart agencies abroad with respect to offshore oil and gas operations.
The US has a national policy on oceans as well as an integrated coastal area management programme. Existing coastal zone and area management plans encompass all marine activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Prior assessment of the impact of major activities on oceans is required under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Under the programme area of marine environmental protection, a tradeable permits programme for SO2 emissions and a cradle-to-grave hazardous waste management scheme has been introduced. The Government has access to technologies that serve to identify the major types of pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources.
The Government participates in the development of socio-economic and environmental indicators, systematic observation systems, mussel watch programmes and clearing-houses, as well as capacity building and training programs. The US National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration is working on a number of indices of nutrient enrichment, including an algae index. The US noted, however, that an algae index alone, without other indices, is not very useful. There are several databases (National Estuarine Inventory, National Coastal Discharge Inventory, National Status and Trends Programme, etc.) used by the US Government, private sector or universities. These databases cover all relevant issues in coastal zones and are rated as "adequate". Since the 1972 enactment of the Coastal Zone Management Act, environmental assessments of coastal and marine areas are undertaken at least every two years. The US is able to measure improvements and changes in the coastal and marine environment primarily through the National Status and Trends Programme.
Bilateral and multilateral financial assistance has been provided by the US Government since 1992 to implement activities to address the sustainable development of small islands and developing states (SIDS). The US supports the Clearinghouse Concept in the Global Plan of Action for the Protection of the MarineEnvironment from Land-based Activities. Adoption of a UNGA resolution would facilitate coordination among the UN agencies and international organizations. The ratification and implementation of IMO treaties also requires international cooperation. The United States fully supports the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, as well as the 1993 Agreement to promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas. The US also fully supports the Code of Conduct of Responsible Fishing which impacts the conservation and management of marine fisheries within the US EEZ.
The Government recently helped launch a process to establish a multinational initiative for an International Research Institute (IRI) and network dedicated to world-class scientific research and education on forecasting on year-to-year climate variability. The US took the lead on developing the clearinghouse activity called for in the Global Programme of Action (GPA) on land-based activities and hosted the conference in 1995 which developed and adopted the GPA. The US plays a significant role in the IOC, IPCC, World Weather Watch, Earth Watch, and International Mussel Watch. The US notes the importance of para. 17.118 of Agenda 21 that calls for the UNGA to provide for regular consideration within the UN system on general marine and coastal issues, including environment and development items. The US Government participates in the Global Ocean Observing System.
USAID's Water and Coastal Resources Program addresses the vital and strategic interests in promoting the sustainable development of freshwater, coastal, and marine resources. USAID is playing a leadership role in providing direction and impetus to international efforts to address the needs for integrated coastal and freshwater resources management, preservation of aquatic biodiversity and reduction of pollution from land-based activities. As part of its strategy, USAID is actively supporting the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which stems in part from a US initiative. In addition USAID actively supports the sustainable management of mangrove and other coastal ecosystems.
The U.S. hosted a UNEP organized conference on landbased
sources of marine pollution in Washington in November 1995
that resulted in a Global Plan of Action to deal with this
serious problem. The U.S. spearheaded international efforts
in 1993/94 to call for a ban on radioactive waste dumping at
sea.
Management of the coasts is shared among many federal and state agencies as well as with local or municipal jurisdictions. Federal legislation governing coastal activities include major acts such as the Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act, Fishery Conservation and Management Act, among many others. The table below lists major US federal coastal and ocean-related legislation.
Federal Legislation
Key Elements to ICM
Act to Prevent Pollution from
Ships
Controls discharges of oil and
noxious substances from ships. In accordance with
MARPOL Convention. Also amended to include ban
discharge of plastics and regulate other ship-borne
garbage.
Clean Air Act
Monitor and assess impacts of
deposition of hazardous air pollutants on coastal
areas.
Clean Vessel Act of 1992
Funds to states for constructing
and operating pumpout stations and waste reception
facilities.
Coastal Barrier Resources Act of
1982
Achieve better use and
conservation of coastal barriers for long-term
sustainability.
Coastal Zone Management Act of
1972
Encourages states to develop ICM
plans to preserve and protect coastal
resources.
Comprehensive Envrionmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980
Responds to toxic spills in
environment by cleaning up and seeks damages from
responsible party.
Federal Water Pollution Control
Act (Clean Water Act)
Developed permitting system for
discharge of source pollutants in US waters.
Amended to include provision for states to develop
management programs to address non-point runoff.
Grants are provided to states to create these
programs.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act
Mandates that federal agencies
must consult with the Fish & Wildlife Svc. and
Marine Fisheries Svc. before they divert, control
or modify a body of water.
National Coastal Monitoring
Act
Established national program to
monitoring coastal ecosystems. This includes
environmental quality of coastal ecosystems,
identifying sources of degradation, effectiveness
of government programs in abating degradation,
trends, and more.
National Contaminated Sediment
Assessment and Management Act
Requires a national survey of
data on sediment quality a program to assess such
quality.
National Environmental Policy
Act
Developed the requirement of an
environmental impact statement for major federal
actions affecting the environment. The EIS details
environmental consequences of the federal
activities.
National Marine Sanctuaries
Act
Authorizes the designation of
marine sanctuaries to marine areas of important
conservation, recreational, ecological, historical,
research, educational, or aesthetic
qualities.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act
Prevention of the introduction
and spread of aquatic nuisance species into the
Great Lakes via ship ballast water.
Ocean Dumping Act of 1990
Regulates ocean dumping through
permitting and authorizes research on its effects.
Prohibits dumping of sewage sludge, industrial
waste, and other toxic substances.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990
Expands on Clean Water Act the
prevention, preparedness, and response to oil
spills. The OPA clarifies federal role, increases
penalties for spills, requires tank vessel and
facility response plans, and provide for
contingency planning.
Rivers and Harbors Act of
1899
Prohibits unathorized
obstruction of US navigable waters.
Section 6217 of CZMA 1990
Required states in federal ICM
program to develop and submit programs to control
non-point source pollution.
Shore Protection Act of
1988
Require permits for transporting
municipal or commerical wastes on vessels in
coastal waters.
Marine Protection, Research, and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972
Established regional research
programs to set priorities for research to
safeguard water quality and ecosystem health; and
carry out research through grants and better
coordination.
Endagnered Species Act of
1973
Protects species of plants and
animals that are determined to be threatened or
endangered. Protects species by limiting the
moderation or destruction of habitat.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Established national standards
for fishery conservation and management within the
EEZ. Created procedure for authorizing and
prohibiting foreign fishing in EEZ. Developed
regional fishery management plans.
Marine Mammal Protection
Act
Bans the taking and importation
of marine mammals and their products and provides
enforcement.
Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act
Established US jurisdiction over
its OCS. Governement oversees mineral exploration
and development of OCS.
Hazardous Materials
Transportation acts
Prevention of pollution from
hazardous substances transported by sea.
Solid Waste Disposal Act
Governs the treatment, storage,
and disposal of solid and hazardous waste.
Water Resources Development
acts
Reduces damage to fish and other
wildlife incurred from federal/state water
resources projects.