33 U.S.C. § 1954
Section 1954 · Interagency coordination
Current version, with additions and removals from the December 22, 2006 version.
The Administrator and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in consultation with the Interagency Committee established under subsection (a),1 shall jointly develop and promulgate through regulations a definition of the term “marine debris” for purposes of this chapter.
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.
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.
(1) Interagency report on marine debris impacts and strategies
(A) In general
Not later than 12 months after December 22, 2006, the Interagency Committee, through the chairperson, shall complete and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report that—
(i) identifies 2 sources of marine debris;
(ii) the ecological and economic impact of marine debris;
(iii) alternatives for reducing, mitigating, preventing, and controlling the harmful affects of marine debris;
(iv) the social and economic costs and benefits of such alternatives; and
(v) recommendations to reduce marine debris both domestically and internationally.
(B) Recommendations
The report shall provide strategies and recommendations on—
(i) establishing priority areas for action to address leading problems relating to marine debris;
(ii) developing strategies and approaches to prevent, reduce, remove, and dispose of marine debris, including through private-public partnerships;
(iii) establishing effective and coordinated education and outreach activities; and
(iv) ensuring Federal cooperation with, and assistance to, the coastal States (as that term is defined in section 1453 of title 16), Indian tribes, and local governments in the identification, determination of sources, prevention, reduction, management, mitigation, and control of marine debris and its adverse impacts.
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.
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 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].