A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, in order to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, and for other purposes.
Public Law 93-254 · H.R. 5450 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Mar 22, 1974 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Leonor Sullivan (D-MO-3)
Cosponsors (19): Rep. James Grover, Rep. Frank Clark,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to regulate: (1) the transportation of material for the purpose of dumping material into ocean waters, and (2) the dumping of material transported by any person from a location outside the United States, if the dumping occurs in the territorial sea or the contiguous zone of the United States.
Specifies, under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, what constitutes "material" for purposes of dumping into ocean waters.
Provides that, except as authorized by a permit: (1) no person shall transport from the United States, and (2) in the case of a vessel or aircraft registered in the United States or flying the United States flag or in the case of a United States department, agency, or instrumentality, no person shall transport from any location any material for the purpose of dumping it into ocean waters.
Provides that in the case of transportation of material, by a vessel or aircraft registered in the United States or flying the United States flag, from a location in a foreign State which is a Party to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, a permit issued pursuant to the authority of that foreign State Party shall be accepted as if it were issued by the Administrator.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.
- Mar 22, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-254.
- Mar 12, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Mar 8, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- Mar 6, 1974CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Oct 18, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Oct 16, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- Oct 10, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Mar 8, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.