The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (also known as the National Marine Sanctuaries Act) is a comprehensive law designed to deal with ocean resources. The law has three main sections: first, it regulates ocean dumping; second, it authorizes marine pollution research; third, it establishes the marine sanctuary program. These sanctuaries can be established to protect areas of significant conservation, cultural, ecological, educational, esthetic, historical, or recreational values. A fourth component to the law, added in 1990, establishes regional marine research programs.

The law established a permit process administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate all ocean dumping, with the exception of dredging materials, which require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The act mandated that ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste end by 1981, but this deadline was missed. The Ocean Dumping...