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Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§665 Investigations as to Effect of Sewage, Industrial Wastes; Reports

Title 16 › Chapter 5A— PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE › Subchapter I— GAME, FUR-BEARING ANIMALS, AND FISH › § 665

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior, using the Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Mines, can study how sewage, mining and oil wastes, industrial pollution, erosion silt, and other pollutants affect wildlife. The Secretary must report the findings to Congress and recommend ways to reduce harmful effects. Those studies must (1) decide what water quality is needed to keep wildlife healthy, (2) study ways to prevent and clean up pollution and to recover useful products from wastes, and (3) collect and share the data and results with federal, state, local, and private agencies and groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §665

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior, through the Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Bureau of Mines, is authorized to make such investigations as he deems necessary to determine the effects of domestic sewage, mine, petroleum, and industrial wastes, erosion silt, and other polluting substances on wildlife, and to make reports to the Congress concerning such investigations and of recommendations for alleviating dangerous and undesirable effects of such pollution. These investigations shall include (1) the determination of standards of water quality for the maintenance of wildlife; (2) the study of methods of abating and preventing pollution, including methods for the recovery of useful or marketable products and byproducts of wastes; and (3) the collation and distribution of data on the progress and results of such investigations for the use of Federal, State, municipal, and private agencies, individuals, organizations, or enterprises.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1946—Act Aug. 14, 1946, amended section generally to provide for investigations as to the effect of sewage and industrial waste on wildlife.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“United States Bureau of Mines” substituted in text for “Bureau of Mines” pursuant to section 10(b) of Pub. L. 102–285, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining. For provisions relating to closure and

Transfer of Functions

of the United States Bureau of Mines, see

Transfer of Functions

note set out under section 1 of Title 30.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

See

Transfer of Functions

note set out under section 661 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 665

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60