§1914. 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; and

(5) 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 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 this Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships [33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] in ensuring compliance under section 1913 of this title.

( 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 .)

References in 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 , as amended. 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.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), probably should be "this title" meaning title II of Pub. L. 100–220, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1460 , as amended, known as the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987. For complete classification of title II 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 , as amended, which is classified principally to this chapter (§1901 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1901 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 and as part of the United States-Japan Fishery Agreement Approval Act of 1987, and not as part of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

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."

Transfer of Functions

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.