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Clean WaterThe Federal Clean Water Act of 1972, also referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, is the cornerstone of water quality protection in the United States, with federal regulations protecting all of our waterways and adjoining shorelines from pollution. The regulations are aimed at reducing pollutant discharges into waterways. The goal of the Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters so they can support "the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, wildlife and recreation in, and on, the water."
source: www.epa.gov October 2005
One specific section of the Clean Water Act - the Discharge of Oil Regulation - is commonly known as the "sheen rule." The sheen rule addresses direct oil discharges and spills and provides the framework for prevention, reporting and otherwise managing all aspects of oil discharges that cause a sheen on the surface of our waterways. A sheen is an iridescent appearance on the surface of water - commonly caused by petroleum waste floating on the water's surface. Oil floating on water can reduce light penetration from the sun, preventing the exchange of oxygen at the water's surface. It can also contaminate other water layers and has the potential to poison much of the aquatic food web - including many species of plants, fish, animals and microbes.
The sheen rule specifically prohibits the discharge of oil from any marine vessel that causes a film, "sheen" or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines. The rule specifically states that "oil accumulated in a vessel's bilge is not exempt [from these rules"] and that fines of up to $5,000 may result. These sections of the Clean Water Act provide the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the U.S. Coast Guard with the authority to establish programs for prevention of water pollution, and to implement the provisions of the Clean Water Act through a variety of regulations and activities.
