Agency Actions
Environmental Protection Agency
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for the protection of human health and the environment. The EPA’s Marine Protection Permitting Program plays a primary role in protecting and preserving ocean and coastal resources by implementing the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). The MPRSA was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1972 to protect and preserve ocean and coastal resources by regulating the transportation and disposition of material in the ocean.
The following actions are or were associated with public comment opportunities. Maps and materials that support public comment opportunities are provided for each action.
Public Notices with Open Comment Periods
EPA Proposes Updates to NPDES Definitions and Exclusions for Offshore Vessel Discharges
On September 4, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to revise the regulatory definition of “discharge of a pollutant” under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting regulations at 40 CFR 122.2 and 122.3. The proposal would remove the requirement that a vessel or other floating craft be “used as a means of transportation” to qualify for the Clean Water Act’s statutory exclusion from NPDES permitting in the contiguous zone (3–12 nautical miles from shore) and the ocean (beyond 12 nautical miles). Under the proposed rule, a vessel or floating craft not secured to the seabed in these waters would no longer require NPDES permit authorization to add pollutants, though it may remain subject to other statutory authorities such as the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) and the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). Facilities secured to the seabed, and all discharges within 3 nautical miles of shore (territorial seas and state waters), would continue to be subject to NPDES permitting requirements under the proposal.
Comments are due October 19, 2026. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-6965). For more information, see EPA’s fact sheet on the proposed rule.
Past Public Notices with Closed Comment Periods
Applications for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) Research Permits
The EPA may issue research permits for the transportation and disposition of materials in the ocean as part of a research project when it is determined that the scientific merit of the proposed activities outweigh the potential adverse environmental or other impacts that may result from the activities. Research permits may be issued for a period of up to 18 months with the possibility of renewal. See EPA’s MPRSA website for more information.
Ocean Disposal Sites
The EPA designates and manages ocean sites for certain materials permitted under the MPRSA. Locations for designated MPRSA ocean sites are selected to minimize the risk of potentially adverse impacts of the disposed material on human health and the marine environment.