33 U.S.C. § 1954 (NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS)
§ 1954. Coordination
(a) Establishment of Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee
There is established an Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee to coordinate a comprehensive program of marine debris research and activities among Federal agencies, in cooperation and coordination with non-governmental organizations, industry, universities, and research institutions, States, Indian tribes, and other nations, as appropriate.
(b) Membership
The Committee shall include a senior official from—
(1) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who shall serve as the Chairperson of the Committee;
(2) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(3) the United States Coast Guard;
(4) the United States Navy;
(5) the Department of State;
(6) the Department of the Interior; and
(7) such other Federal agencies that have an interest in ocean issues or water pollution prevention and control as the Secretary of Commerce determines appropriate.
(c) Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least twice a year to provide a public, interagency forum to ensure the coordination of national and international research, monitoring, education, and regulatory actions addressing the persistent marine debris problem.
(d) Monitoring
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary, in cooperation with the EPA Administrator, shall utilize the marine debris data derived under title V of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) to assist—
(1) the Committee in ensuring coordination of research, monitoring, education and regulatory actions; and
(2) the United States Coast Guard in assessing the effectiveness of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships [33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] in ensuring compliance under section 2201 of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 [33 U.S.C. 1913].
(e) Biennial progress reports
Biennially, the Committee, through the Chairperson, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that evaluates United States and international progress in meeting the purpose of this chapter. The report shall include—
(1) the status of implementation of any recommendations and strategies of the Committee and analysis of their effectiveness;
(2) a summary of the marine debris inventory to be maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(3) a review of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program authorized by section 1952 of this title, including projects funded and accomplishments relating to reduction and prevention of marine debris;
(4) a review of Coast Guard programs and accomplishments relating to marine debris removal, including enforcement and compliance with MARPOL requirements; and
(5) estimated Federal and non-Federal funding provided for marine debris and recommendations for priority funding needs.
(Pub. L. 109–449, § 103, formerly § 5, formerly Pub. L. 100–220, title II, § 2203, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1466; Pub. L. 104–324, title VIII, § 802(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3944; Pub. L. 109–449, § 5(a), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3337; renumbered Pub. L. 109–449, § 5, and amended Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 606(a)(1), (2), (b), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1578; Pub. L. 115–265, title I, § 104, Oct. 11, 2018, 132 Stat. 3744; renumbered § 103 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 2(a)(2), 6(b), Dec. 26, 2025, 139 Stat. 1986, 1990.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 92–532, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052. Title V of the Act, popularly known as the National Coastal Monitoring Act, is classified generally to chapter 41 (§ 2801 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of title V to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2801 of this title and Tables.
The Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is Pub. L. 100–220, title II, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1460. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1987 Amendment note set out under section 1901 of this title and Tables.
The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is Pub. L. 96–478, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2297, which is classified principally to chapter 33 (§ 1901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1901 of this title and Tables.
heading: Codification
text: Former section 1954(c)(2) of this title, which was transferred and redesignated as subsec. (e) of this section by Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 606(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1578, was based on Pub. L. 109–449, § 5(c)(2), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3338.
Section was formerly section 2203 of Pub. L. 100–220 and was classified to section 1914 of this title.
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 5 of Pub. L. 109–449, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3337, which related to interagency coordination to address problems of marine debris, was classified to this section prior to repeal by Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 606(a)(1), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1578. Subsec. (a) of such prior section 5 of Pub. L. 109–449 amended section 2203 of Pub. L. 100–220, which was renumbered as a new section 5 of Pub. L. 109–449 by Pub. L. 112–213 and was transferred to this section.
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 119–65, § 6(b)(2), substituted “EPA Administrator” for “Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency”.
Pub. L. 119–65, § 6(b)(1), substituted “Under Secretary” for “Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 119–65, § 6(b)(3), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1952 of this title.
2018—Subsec. (b)(5) to (7). Pub. L. 115–265 added pars. (5) and (6) and redesignated former par. (5) as (7).
2012—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 112–213, § 606(a)(2), substituted “the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987” for “this Act” and inserted “of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987” after “section 2201”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 112–213, § 606(b)(2), in heading, substituted “Biennial progress reports” for “Annual progress reports” and in text, substituted “Biennially” for “Not later than 3 years after December 22, 2006, and biennially thereafter” and “Chairperson” for “chairperson”, inserted “Natural” before “Resources”, and struck out “Interagency” before “Committee, through” and before “Committee and”, redesignated subpars. (A) to (E) as pars. (1) to (5), respectively, and realigned margins.
Pub. L. 112–213, § 606(b)(1), transferred subsec. (c)(2) of former section 1954 of this title and redesignated it as subsec. (e) of this section. See Codification note above.
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–449, § 5(a)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a). Text read as follows: “The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a Marine Debris Coordinating Committee.”
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–449, § 5(a)(2), inserted “public, interagency” before “forum”.
1996—Pub. L. 104–324 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “Not later than September 30, 1988, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Congress a report on the effects of plastic materials on the marine environment. The report shall—
“(1) identify and quantify the harmful effects of plastic materials on the marine environment;
“(2) assess the specific effects of plastic materials on living marine resources in the marine environment;
“(3) identify the types and classes of plastic materials that pose the greatest potential hazard to living marine resources;
“(4) analyze, in consultation with the Director of the National Bureau of Standards, plastic materials which are claimed to be capable of reduction to environmentally benign submits under the action of normal environmental forces (including biological decomposition, photodegradation, and hydrolysis); and
“(5) recommend legislation which is necessary to prohibit, tax, or regulate sources of plastic materials that enter the marine environment.”
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Transfer of Functions
text: For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.