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In 1988, Congress enacted the Shore Protection Act (33 U.S.C. 2601) to minimize trash, medical debris and other unsightly and potentially harmful materials from being deposited into the coastal waters of the United States as a result of inadequate waste handling procedures by vessels transporting wastes on U.S. coastal waters and associated loading and off-loading facilities. The Shore Protection Act directed EPA to prescribe waste handling requirements for waste sources, receiving facilities, and vessels handling or transporting municipal or commercial waste in coastal waters. In 1994, EPA proposed a rule to minimize the waste handling practices for vessels and waste handling facilities involved in the transport of municipal or commercial wastes in the coastal waters of the United States. The development of this final rule would affect local governments and businesses involved with the vessel transportation and shore side handling of these wastes. This rule would not impact tribes as no tribes are known to be involved in waste handling of this type.