ABSTRACT
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has responsibilities for designating marine and estuarine sanctuaries; both of these categories potentially apply to the construction of artificial reefs in the Great Lakes. The creation of a National Artificial Reef Policy Act is proposed, to improve coordination of legislative responsibilities under the various Federal and state regulatory programs. Continuing, the rulemaking states that the regulations apply to those aquaculture facilities which are designed to utilize pollutants for the maintenance, growth and propagation of freshwater, estuarine, and marine organisms, and to develop new aquaculture crops within the United States and its territories. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Department of the Commerce is a third Federal agency with regulatory responsibilities in the construction of artificial reefs in the Great Lakes. The Environmental Protection Agency is the fourth Federal department with regulatory responsibilities in the construction of artificial reefs in the Great Lakes.
