Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-1171
Sponsor: Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-17]
Introduced: 2011-03-17 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Solid waste and recycling
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-17
text: 
Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011 - Reauthorizes appropriations through FY2016 for, and revises provisions of, the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. Replaces provisions establishing within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program with provisions establishing the Marine Debris Program.
 
Revises provisions governing such Program, including by requiring the Administrator of NOAA to: (1) investigate, identify sources of, assess, reduce, remove, and prevent the occurrence of marine debris and to address and prevent adverse impacts of such debris on the marine environment, navigation safety, and the economy; (2) address land-based sources of marine debris, develop fishing gear modifications or alternatives to conventional fishing gear posing a threat to the marine environment, and develop effective nonregulatory measures and incentives to cooperatively reduce the volume of lost and discarded fishing gear and to aid in its recovery; (3) undertake national and regional coordination to assist states, Indian tribes, and regional organizations to address marine debris issues that are particular to their areas; (4) develop tools and products to improve efforts to address marine debris and make them available to researchers, the marine debris community, and the general public; and (5) lead the development and implementation of a strategy to promote international action to reduce the incidence of marine debris.
 
 
Requires the Administrator to host a Global Marine Debris Coordination Conference in 2015 and at least every four years thereafter.
 
Defines &quot;marine debris&quot; to mean any man-made object that: (1) intentionally or unintentionally, is discarded, disposed of, or abandoned; and (2) enters the coastal or marine environment directly from a vessel, a facility, or shore or indirectly, by being carried via a river, stream, or storm drain or by other means.

action_date: 2012-08-01
text: 
Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2012 - Reauthorizes appropriations through FY2015 for, and revises provisions of, the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. 
 
(Sec. 3) Renames such Act as the Marine Debris Act. Replaces provisions establishing within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program with provisions establishing the Marine Debris Program to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the U.S. economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety.
 
(Sec. 5) Revises Program components, including by requiring the Administrator of NOAA to provide national and regional coordination to assist states, Indian tribes, and regional organizations in identification, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris.
 
Amends the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 to repeal the plastic pollution public education program. 
 
(Sec. 7) Replaces provisions of the Marine Debris Program concerning interagency coordination with provisions establishing the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee under the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987.
 
Requires such Committee to submit biennial (currently annual) progress reports.
 
(Sec. 8) Requires the Administrator to ensure the confidentiality of information submitted into the federal information clearinghouse on marine debris. (Currently, the Administrator is required to take steps to ensure the confidentiality of only such information that is submitted by the fishing industry.)
 
(Sec. 9) Defines the term &quot;marine debris&quot; as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5609-5610)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5609-5610)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1171.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5609-5612)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Mr. Young (AK) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 432.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 112-584, Part II.
action_date: 2012-07-17
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 112-584, Part II.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-584, Part I.
action_date: 2012-07-09
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-584, Part I.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs Discharged.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2012-06-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-03-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
action_date: 2011-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2011-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural 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: 2011-03-17
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural 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: 2011-03-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-03-17
text: Introduced in House