grab samples

SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
Canada 's Ocean Dumping Control Act ( 197 5) and its accompanying Regulations had their origins in a
conference in London, Engl and, in 1972. As a result of that conference, Canada, with some eighty other nations,
signed " The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter."
The agreement, generally known as the London Convention, specified that participating countries should
regulate dumping in marine waters through a permit system, both within national waters and on the high seas.
The Ocean Dumping Control Act is the nationa l legislation which ena bles Ca nada to fulfill its
international obligations under the London Convention. The principles of the Act are directly related to
Canada's interest in developing and managing ocean resources. Thus, the Act assists in the protection of our
fisheries and recreational activities from pollution resulting from dumping in marine waters.
The Ocean Dumping Control Act defines dumping as the deliberate disposal from ships, aircraft, platforms
or other man-made structures at sea of any substance. For the purposes of this Act, the deliberate disposa l from
ships, aircraft, platforms or other man-made structures at sea of any substances by incineration or other means
of thermal degradation is deemed to be dumping.
Administration of the Ocean Dumping Control Act is the responsibility of the Federal Department of
Fisheries and the Environment. In administering the Act, the Department controls the dumping of all
substances; prohibits the dumping of harmful substances; monitors dumping sites to determine the effects of
dumping and esta blishes criteria concerning the effect of waste substances on the marine environment.
The dumping of all substances in the oceans and the disposal of substances on ice at sea is regulated
through a permit system.
Dumping of substances consid ered to be harmful to the marine environment is prohibited except in special
circumstances. These substances are listed in Schedule I of the Act and include:
I. Organohalogen compounds
2. Mercury and mercury compounds
3. Cadmium and cadmium compounds
4. Persistent plastics and other persistent synthetic materials
5. Crude oil , fuel oil, heavy diesel oil and lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids and any mixtures containing any
of them
6. High-level radioactive wastes or other high-level radioactive ma tter that may be prescribed
7. Substances in whatever form produced for biological and chemical warfare.
Since some materials, including dredged sediments. may contain naturally occurring trace concentrations
or certain prohibited Schedule I items, provision is made in the regulations for maximum allowable quantities
and concentrations of these items which may be dumped.
Disposal of substances which are potentially hazardous when released in the marine environment is also
restricted by the Act. These substances are listed in Schedule II of the Act and include:
I. Arsenic and its com pounds
2. Lead and its compounds
3. Copper and its compounds
4. Zinc and its compounds