An original bill to amend section 204 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations for title II of such Act for fiscal year 1980.
PL 96-381 (S.1123), enacted 10/06/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-381—OCT. 6, 1980 
94 STAT. 1523 
Public Law 96-381 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To amend section 204 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
of 1972 to authorize appropriations for title II of such Act for fiscal year 
1980. 
Oct. 6, 1980 
[S. 1123] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 203 of 
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 
U.S.C. 1443) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 203. (a) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency shall— 
"(1) conduct research, investigations, experiments, training, 
demonstrations, surveys, and studies for the purpose o
f
— 
"(A) determining means of minimizing or ending, as soon 
as possible after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
dumping into ocean waters, or waters described in section 
101(b), of material which may unreasonably degrade or 
endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the 
marine environment, ecological systems, or economic poten-
tialities, and 
"(B) developing disposal methods as alternatives to the 
dumping described in subparagraph (A); and 
"(2) encourage, cooperate with, promote the coordination of, 
and render financial and other assistance to appropriate public 
authorities, agencies, and institutions (whether Federal, State, 
interstate, or local) and appropriate private agencies, institu-
tions, and individuals in the conduct of research and other 
activities described in paragraph (1). 
"(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect in any way 
the December 31,1981, termination date, established in section 4 of 
the Act of November 4,1977 (Public Law 95-153; 33 U.S.C. 1412a), for 
the ocean dumping of sewage sludge.". 
SEC. 2. Section 204 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctu-
aries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1444) is amended— 
(1) by striking out "and" immediately after "fiscal year 1977,", 
and 
(2) by striking out "fiscal year 1978." and inserting in lieu 
thereof the following: "fiscal year 1978, not to exceed $11,396,000 
for fiscal year 1981, and not to exceed $12,000,000 for fiscal year 
1982.". 
Marine 
Protection, 
Research, and 
Sanctuaries Act 
of 1972, 
amendment. 
33 u s e 1411. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
94 STAT. 1524 
PUBLIC LAW 96-381—OCT. 6, 1980 
SEC. 8. Section 202(a) of the Marine Protection, Hesearch, and 
Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1442(a)) is amended by inserting 
the following immediately after the first sentence thereof: "These 
responsibilities shall include the scientific assessment of damages 
, 
to the natural resources from spills of petroleum or petooleum 
products.". 
Approved October 6, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-894 Pt. 1 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) and 
Pt. 2 (Comm. on Science and Technology), both accompanying H.R. 
6616. 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-133 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 125 (1979): June 6, considered and pa£i3ed Senate. 
Vol. 126 (1980): May 12, 13, H.R. 6616 considered and passed House; passage 
vacated and S. 1123, amended, passed in lieu. 
Sept. 9, Senate concurred in House amendment with an 
amendment. 
Sept. 24, House concurred in Senate amendment.