[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  THE MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT AMENDMENTS OF 
                                  1994

                                 ______


                         HON. WILLIAM J. HUGHES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 1994

  Mr. HUGHES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation that would 
improve implementation of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and 
Control Act of 1987. This bill, the Marine Plastic Pollution Research & 
Control Act Amendments of 1994, is analogous to language introduced in 
the Senate by my distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Senator Frank 
Lautenberg.
  As many of my colleagues know, I have worked hard throughout my 20 
years in Congress to improve the quality of our coastal waters and 
beaches. In the past, I have successfully sponsored legislation to end 
ocean dumping of sewerage sludge and to track medical waste to ensure 
that it doesn't wind up on our beaches as it did in 1988. I am also 
currently the sponsor of legislation to improve the monitoring of 
coastal recreational waters.
  Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act Amendments of 1994 
is a natural counterpart to that legislation, because it seeks to 
improve the quality of our coastal waters through enhanced procedures 
for plastic pollution monitoring. The legislation provides the Coast 
Guard with additional authority and imposes stricter requirements on 
it, all aimed at improving compliance and enforcement of waste disposal 
practices abroad vessels and at ports.
  An important way to attack the ocean dumping problem is to ensure the 
presence of adequate waste reception facilities at all ports and 
terminals. My bill does this by requiring on site inspection of 
reception facilities by the Coast Guard prior to issuance of a 
certificate of adequacy. It also seeks to assure those facilities are 
maintained by providing for automatic expiration of certificates after 
5 years, or sooner if there is a change in operator or if the 
certificate is suspended or revoked. In addition, the bill prohibits a 
port from charging a separate fee for waste disposal--a practice that 
has contributed to problems with compliance because these separate fees 
are often unpredictable. The bill would require that these fees be 
included in the docking fee or another obligatory fee, thus making them 
more predictable.
  Should a port fail to comply with the act, this bill authorizes the 
Coast Guard to assess a civil penalty against a noncomplying port for 
up to 30 days, after which time the agency must revoke the certificate 
and close the port.
  The bill also addresses similar problems at marinas. My legislation 
requires the Coast Guard to establish a program to ensure that 
operators of marinas maintain adequate waste reception facilities. The 
program's efficacy will be tracked through mandatory biennial reports 
to Congress.
  Unfortunately, the Coast Guard can't do the job alone. That's why the 
Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act Amendments provides 
an avenue for citizen involvement. It does this by making available a 
current list of certificate status at ports and by requiring that ports 
post placards containing telephone numbers where citizens could call to 
report any inadequacy of reception facilities. In order to make it easy 
for individual citizens to report violations, the bill directs the 
Coast Guard to establish a toll-free telephone reporting system. 
Furthermore, the bill expands the crew and passenger education 
requirement to include a structured briefing about the Marpol 
Convention for everyone on board a ship before disembarkation--perhaps 
as part of the vessel's safety briefing. The bill would also extend the 
mandate to conduct public education and outreach on plastic pollution 
and authorizes USCG, EPA, and NOAA to award grants for carrying out 
such programs.
  Other parts of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act 
Amendments of 1994 would address compliance of foreign vessels with 
Marpol; states the sense of the Congress that domestic shipping 
insurance should not provide for the payment of penalties under this 
act; make whistleblower provisions applicable to employees of DOD, DOT, 
and DOA, so that Federal employees who report violations of this act 
are protected; and assure better coordination between DOT, DOD, and DOA 
to implement this act.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning I listened to the new Commandant of the 
Coast Guard, Admiral Kramek, state that he wanted the Coast Guard to be 
world leaders in environmental protection. I applaud his vision, and I 
think the Coast Guard is well on the way to achieving that goal. This 
legislation fits in well with Admiral Kramek's vision because it will 
help the Coast Guard to ensure that our coastal waters are free of 
plastic debris and other garbage.
  This bill is supported by the Coast Guard, as well as the Center For 
Marine Conservation. I hope my colleagues will join with me and those 
distinguished entities and lend their support to this legislation.

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