Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/554

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P U B L I C LAW 6 6 0 - J U L Y 9, 1956

Public Law 660 July 9, 1956 [S' 890]

[70 S T A T.

CHAPTER 518

^^ ^^^ To extend and strengthen the W a t e r Pollution Control Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the comroi Act'A^en* United Sttttes of America in Congress assembled, That the Water Polments°of 1956.*" lution Coiitrol Act (33 U.S.C. 466-4661) is hereby amended to read as 62 Stat. 1155.

fQUOWS I "DECLARATION OF POLICY

1. (a) I n connection with the exercise of jurisdiction over the waterways of the Nation and in consequence of the benefits resulting to the public health and welfare by the prevention and control of water pollution, it is hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to recognize, preserve, and protect the primary responsibilities and rights of the States in preventing and controlling water pollution, to support and aid technical research relating to the prevention and control of water pollution, and to provide Federal technical services and financial aid to State and interstate agencies and to municipalities in connection of^cT^"^^*'^*^*"* with the prevention and control of water pollution. To this end, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service shall administer this Act through the Public Health Service and under the supervision and direction of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. "(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to the waters (including boundary waters) of such States. "SECTION

"COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL

"SEC. 2. The Surgeon General shall, after careful investigation, and in cooperation wnth other Federal agencies, with State water pollution control agencies and interstate agencies, and with the municipalities and industries involved, prepare or develop comprehensive programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries thereof and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. I n the development of such comprehensive programs due regard shall be given to the improvements which are necessary to conserve such waters for public water supplies, propagation of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, recreational purposes, and tions?* ^""*'®"*^^*' agricultural, industrial, and other legitimate uses. For the purpose of this section, the Surgeon General is authorized to make joint investigations with any such agencies of the condition of any waters in any State or States, and of the discharges of any sewage, industrial wastes, or substance which may adversely affect such waters. a INTERSTATE COOPERATION AND UNIFORM LAWS

"SEC. 3. (a) The Surgeon General shall encourage cooperative activities by the States for the prevention and control of water pollution; encourage the enactment of improved and, so far as practicable, uniform State laws relating to the prevention and control of water pollution; and encourage compacts between States for the prevention and control of water pollution. " (b) The consent of the Congress is hereby given to two or more States to negotiate and enter into agreements or compacts, not in conflict with any law or treaty of the United States, for (1) cooperative effort and mutual assistance for the prevention and control of water pollution and the enforcement of their respective laws relating thereto, and (2) the establishment of such agencies, joint or otherwise, as they

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