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HR 3478 100th Congress House

A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical waste in ocean and navigable waters and…

Official title: A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical waste in ocean and navigable waters and to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate medical waste to protect public health and the environment.

Introduced: March 9, 1988 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Hazardous waste disposalHealthHealth facilitiesOcean
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Public healthRefuse and refuse disposalWaste disposal in the oceanWater and Water Resources DevelopmentWater pollution control
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 19, 1988
See S.2030.
Oct 6, 1988
Favorable Executive Comment Received From Justice.
Sep 7, 1988
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Sep 7, 1988
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 8, 1988
Field Hearings Held in Surf City, New Jersey.
Oct 26, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Water Resources.
Oct 26, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from EPA, OMB.
Oct 26, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials.
Oct 20, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Oceanography.
Oct 20, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment.
Oct 20, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior, EPA, Army Corps of Engineers.
Oct 13, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Oct 13, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Oct 13, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Oct 13, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 19, 1988

See S.2030.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to prohibit the dumping of medical wastes into the ocean and navigable waters. Establishes a maximum fine for violations at least twice as high as that imposed for dumping other kinds of waste.

Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of medical waste as necessary to protect human health and the environment. Excludes waste already regulated as hazardous. Requires persons handling such waste to submit information and permit inspection of handling facilities, including providing samples. Establishes civil penalties for violations.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 7
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3478: A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical waste in ocean and navigable waters and to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate medical waste to protect public health and the environment.. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3478/
MLA
"H.R. 3478: A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical waste in ocean and navigable waters and to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate medical waste to protect public health and the environment.." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3478/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3478, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3478/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3478: A bill to amend the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1977 to ban the dumping of medical waste in ocean and navigable waters and to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate medical waste to protect public health and the environment.](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-3478/)
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