Clean Water Act
33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

Specific Natural Resource Trustee Authorities:

Section 311:

• regulates the discharge of oil and other hazardous substances into navigable waters and waters of the contiguous zone, as well as onto adjoining shorelines, that may be harmful to the public or to natural resources
• establishes that the party responsible for discharge must notify the appropriate Federal agency;
• allows the Federal government to remove the substance and assess the removal costs against the responsible person
• defines removal costs to include costs for the restoration or replacement of natural resources damaged or destroyed as a result of a discharge of oil or a hazardous substance.