Refuse Act

The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, also known as the Refuse Act, was the first piece of legislation directed toward tlie prevention of water pollution. It stated that ... 

Violators of the Refuse Act were subject to a fine of not more tlian 2,500 and/or imprisonment for not more than one year. Although not dnifted to curb oil pollution, the Refuse Act has been w idcly used to prosecute those who discharge oil into mivigablc waters. 

The Oil Pollution Act, wliich prohibits the discluirge of oil from any vessel into navigable waters, was passed in 1924. The penalties for violators were the same is those for the Refuse Act of 1899 with one addition tlie Coast Guard had the authority to suspend or revoke licenses held by the officers of vessels found to be in viohition of the act. 

The earliest Congressional legislation broadly dealing with any definition of pollution abatement and control was the 1899 Refuse Act, commonly known as the Rivers and Harbors Act. Its purpose was actually to simply... 

The FWPCA of 1972 gave EPA greater authority to fight water pollution. While implementing the Act, EPA cooperates with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Secretary of the Interior. Individual states have primary responsibility for enforcing water quality standards, but if the states fail to meet expectations, EPA can take civil or criminal action under the Refuse Act. 

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