View all text of Subchapter I [§ 9111 - § 9127]
§ 9117. Protection of the environment
(a) Environmental assessment program
(b) Program purposes
The program shall be designed to determine, among other things—
(1) any short-term and long-term effects on the environment which may occur as a result of the operation of ocean thermal energy conversion facilities and plantships;
(2) the nature and magnitude of any oceanographic, atmospheric, weather, climatic, or biological changes in the environment which may occur as a result of deployment and operation of large numbers of ocean thermal energy conversion facilities and plantships;
(3) the nature and magnitude of any oceanographic, biological or other changes in the environment which may occur as a result of the operation of electric transmission cables and equipment located in the water column or on or in the seabed, including the hazards of accidentally severed transmission cables; and
(4) whether the magnitude of one or more of the cumulative environmental effects of deployment and operation of large numbers of ocean thermal energy conversion facilities and plantships requires that an upper limit be placed on the number or total capacity of such facilities or plantships to be licensed under this chapter for simultaneous operation, either overall or within specific geographic areas.
(c) Plan submittal to Congress
(d) Reduction of program to minimum necessary level
(e) Environmental impact statement
(f) Discharge of pollutants
(Pub. L. 96–320, title I, § 107, Aug. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 984.)