Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act

Bill: 109-hr-3692
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2005-09-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Biodegradation
Coast guard
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Commerce
Department of Homeland Security
Ecological research
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental education
Environmental monitoring
Equipment and supplies
Executive reorganization
Fishing boats
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Harbors
International Affairs
International environmental cooperation
Law
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine ecology
Marine pollution
Marine safety
Marine terminals
Plastics
Pollution control
Pollution measurement
Public-private partnerships
Recycling of waste products
Remote sensing
Science, Technology, Communications
Transportation and Public Works
Waste disposal in the ocean

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: 
Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act - Establishes within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program of project grants to reduce and prevent the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the marine environment and navigation safety. Requires the Administrator of NOAA 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 fishing gear losses, as well as their adverse impacts on living marine resources and navigation safety; and (3) undertake outreach and education of the public and other stakeholders in the fishing, fishing gear manufacturers, and other marine-dependent industries on sources of and threats associated with marine debris and approaches to identify, determine sources of, reduce, and prevent such debris and its adverse impacts on the marine environment and navigational safety.
 
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, determine sources of, reduce, and prevent marine debris and its adverse impact on the marine environment and navigational safety, including the joint funding of research and mitigation and prevention strategies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans.
action_date: 2005-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-09-07
text: Introduced in House