Marine Debris Research Prevention and Reduction Act

Bill: 108-s-2488
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2004-06-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Agriculture and Food
Animals
Aquaculture
Armed Forces and National Security
Boats and boating
Business records
Coast guard
Coastal zone
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consent decrees
Cost effectiveness
Crime and Law Enforcement
Data banks
Department of Commerce
Department of Homeland Security
Ecological research
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Environmental education
Environmental law enforcement
Environmental research
Equipment and supplies
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to water pollution control
Federal-Indian relations
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Fisheries
Fishing boats
Geographic information systems
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Harbors
Identification devices
Infrastructure
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
International Affairs
International agencies
International environmental cooperation
Law
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Marine resources conservation
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Minorities
Native Americans
Negotiations
New products
Nongovernmental organizations
Oceanographic research
Oceanography
Plastics
Public-private partnerships
Refuse and refuse disposal
Remote sensing
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Ships
Social Welfare
Space activities
Sports and Recreation
Telephone
Territorial waters
Transportation and Public Works
Treaties
Waste disposal in rivers, lakes, etc.
Waste disposal in the ocean
Waste disposal sites
Water pollution control
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: 
Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act - Establishes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program of certain activities and grants for projects to reduce and prevent the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the marine environment and navigation safety. Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce to: (1) undertake marine debris mapping, impact assessment, prevention, and removal efforts, with a focus on marine debris posing a threat to living marine resources (particularly endangered or protected species) and navigation safety; (2) improve efforts and actively seek to prevent and reduce commercial fishing gear losses, as well as to reduce adverse impacts of such gear on living marine resources and navigation safety; and (3) undertake outreach and education of stakeholders in the fishing, gear manufacturers, and other marine-dependent industries on threats associated with marine debris and approaches to identify, prevent, and remove such debris.
 
Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to undertake measures to reduce violations of MARPOL Annex V (Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships with respect to the discard of plastics and other garbage from vessels.
 
Establishes an Interagency Committee on Marine Debris to: (1) coordinate a comprehensive program of marine debris research and activities among Federal agencies, in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, industry, universities, State governments, Indian tribes, and other nations; and (2) foster cost-effective mechanisms to identify, reduce, and prevent marine debris. 

action_date: 2004-10-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act - (Sec. 3) Establishes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program to reduce and prevent the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the marine environment and navigation safety. 
 
Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce (Under Secretary) to: (1) undertake marine debris mapping, impact assessment, prevention, and removal efforts, with a focus on marine debris posing a threat to living marine resources (particularly endangered or protected species) and navigation safety; (2) improve efforts and actively seek to prevent and reduce commercial fishing gear losses, as well as to reduce adverse impacts of such gear on living marine resources and navigation safety; and (3) undertake outreach and education of stakeholders in the fishing, gear manufacturers, and other marine-dependent industries on threats associated with marine debris and approaches to identify, prevent, and remove such debris.
 
Prescribes guidelines for the Under Secretary to provide financial assistance to related projects, in the form of grants, through the Program for the projects. 
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to undertake specified measures to reduce violations of MARPOL Annex V (Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships with respect to the discard of plastics and other garbage from vessels.
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes an Interagency Committee on Marine Debris (Committee) to: (1) coordinate a comprehensive program of marine debris research and activities among Federal agencies, in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, industry, universities, State governments, Indian tribes, and other nations; and (2) foster cost-effective mechanisms to identify, reduce, and prevent marine debris. 
 
Directs the Committee to report to Congress on the ecological and economic impact of marine debris, alternatives for reducing, mitigating, preventing, and controlling the harmful affects of marine debris, and the social and economic costs and benefits of such alternatives. Requires a biennial status update to Congress.
 
Amends the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 to conform with this Act by repealing the mandate for the existing Department of Commerce Marine Debris Coordinating Committee.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Committee to develop a strategy and pursue, in the International Maritime Organization and other appropriate international and regional forums, international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris.
 
(Sec. 7) Instructs the Under-Secretary, in coordination with the Committee, to maintain a Federal information clearinghouse on marine debris that will be available to researchers and other interested parties to improve source identification, data sharing, and monitoring efforts through collaborative research and open sharing of data. 
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005

action_date: 2004-11-21
text: 
Marine Debris Research Prevention and Reduction Act - (Sec. 3) Establishes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program to reduce and prevent the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the marine environment and navigation safety. 
 
Requires the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce (Under Secretary) to: (1) undertake marine debris mapping, impact assessment, prevention, and removal efforts, with a focus on marine debris posing a threat to living marine resources (particularly endangered or protected species) and navigation safety; (2) improve efforts and actively seek to prevent and reduce commercial fishing gear losses, as well as to reduce adverse impacts of such gear on living marine resources and navigation safety; and (3) undertake outreach and education of stakeholders in the fishing, gear manufacturers, and other marine-dependent industries on threats associated with marine debris and approaches to identify, prevent, and remove such debris.
 
Prescribes guidelines for the Under Secretary to provide financial assistance to related projects, in the form of grants, through the Program for the projects. 
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to undertake specified measures to reduce violations of MARPOL Annex V (Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships with respect to the discard of plastics and other garbage from vessels.
 
(Sec. 5) Establishes an Interagency Committee on Marine Debris (Committee) to: (1) coordinate a comprehensive program of marine debris research and activities among Federal agencies, in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, industry, universities, State governments, Indian tribes, and other nations; and (2) foster cost-effective mechanisms to identify, reduce, and prevent marine debris.
 
Includes within such Committee membership the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of State.
 
Directs the Committee to report to Congress on the ecological and economic impact of marine debris, alternatives for reducing, mitigating, preventing, and controlling the harmful affects of marine debris, and the social and economic costs and benefits of such alternatives. Requires a biennial status update to Congress.
 
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of NOAA and in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to utilize the marine debris data to assist: (1) the Committee in ensuring coordination of research, monitoring, education, and regulatory actions; and (2) the Coast Guard in assessing the effectiveness of this Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships in ensuring compliance, under the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987, with MARPOL Annex V.
 
Amends the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 to conform with this Act by repealing the mandate for the existing Department of Commerce Marine Debris Coordinating Committee. 
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Committee to develop a strategy and pursue, in the International Maritime Organization and other appropriate international and regional forums, international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris.
 
(Sec. 7) Instructs the Under-Secretary, in coordination with the Committee, to maintain a Federal information clearinghouse on marine debris that will be available to researchers and other interested parties to improve source identification, data sharing, and monitoring efforts through collaborative research and open sharing of data. 
 
(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-11-24
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-11-24
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2004-11-24
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-11-21
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-11-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-11-21
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR 11/20/2004 S11840)
action_date: 2004-10-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 792.
action_date: 2004-10-11
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain without amendment. With written report No. 108-401.
action_date: 2004-10-11
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain without amendment. With written report No. 108-401.
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6350-6352)
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6349-6350)
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Introduced in Senate