[House Report 112-584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                            Rept. 112-584
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                      Part 1

======================================================================



 
                  MARINE DEBRIS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2012

                                _______
                                

                  July 9, 2012.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1171]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1171) to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris 
Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend 
that the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Debris Act Amendments of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

  Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment is expressed as an amendment to a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.), as in effect immediately before the enactment 
of this Act.

SEC. 3. SHORT TITLE AMENDMENT.

  Section 1 (33 U.S.C. 1951 note) is amended by striking ``Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction''.

SEC. 4. PURPOSE.

   Section 2 (33 U.S.C. 1951) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

  ``The purpose of this Act is to address the adverse impacts of marine 
debris on the United States economy, the marine environment, and 
navigation safety through identification, determination of sources, 
assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris.''.

SEC. 5. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.

  (a) Name of Program.--
          (1) In general.--Section 3 (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended--
                  (A) in the section heading by striking ``prevention 
                and removal''; and
                  (B) in subsection (a)--
                          (i) by striking ``Prevention and Removal 
                        Program to reduce and prevent'' and inserting 
                        ``Program to identify, determine sources of, 
                        assess, prevent, reduce, and remove''; and
                          (ii) by inserting ``the economy of the United 
                        States,'' after ``marine debris on''; and
                          (iii) by inserting a comma after 
                        ``environment''.
          (2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraph (7) of section 7 (33 
        U.S.C. 1956) is amended by striking ``Prevention and Removal''.
  (b) Program Components.--Section 3(b) (33 U.S.C. 1952(b)) is amended 
to read as follows:
  ``(b) Program Components.--The Administrator, acting through the 
Program and subject to the availability of appropriations, shall--
          ``(1) identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, 
        reduce, and remove marine debris, with a focus on marine debris 
        posing a threat to living marine resources and navigation 
        safety;
          ``(2) 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;
          ``(3) undertake efforts to reduce adverse impacts of lost and 
        discarded fishing gear on living marine resources and 
        navigation safety, including--
                  ``(A) research and development of alternatives to 
                gear posing threats to the marine environment, and 
                methods for marking gear used in specific fisheries to 
                enhance the tracking, recovery, and identification of 
                lost and discarded gear; and
                  ``(B) development of effective nonregulatory measures 
                and incentives to cooperatively reduce the volume of 
                lost and discarded fishing gear and to aid in its 
                recovery; and
          ``(4) undertake outreach and education of the public and 
        other stakeholders on sources of marine debris, threats 
        associated with marine debris, and approaches to identify, 
        determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove 
        marine debris and its adverse impacts on the United States 
        economy, the marine environment, and navigational safety, 
        including outreach and education activities through public-
        private initiatives.''.
  (c) Grant Criteria and Guidelines.--Section 3(c) (33 U.S.C. 1952(c)) 
is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 2(1)'' and 
        inserting ``section 2'';
          (2) by repealing paragraph (5); and
          (3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (5) 
        and (6).

SEC. 6. PROGRESS REPORTS.

  Section 5(c)(2) (33 U.S.C. 1954(c)(2)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Annual Progress Reports.--'' and all that 
        follows through ``thereafter'' and inserting ``Biennial 
        Progress Reports.--Biennially''; and
          (2) by inserting ``Natural'' before ``Resources''.

SEC. 7. CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUBMITTED INFORMATION.

  Section 6(2) (33 U.S.C. 1955(2)) is amended by striking ``by the 
fishing industry''.

SEC. 8. MARINE DEBRIS DEFINITION.

  Section 7 (33 U.S.C. 1956) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (9), and 
        moving such paragraph to appear after paragraph (8); and
          (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
          ``(3) Marine debris.--The term `marine debris' means any 
        persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and 
        directly or indirectly, and intentionally or unintentionally, 
        disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the 
        Great Lakes.''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  Section 9 (33 U.S.C. 1958) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``are'' and inserting ``is'';
          (2) by striking ``2006 through 2010'' and all that follows 
        through ``(1)'' and inserting ``through fiscal year 2015''; and
          (3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$10,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$4,900,000''.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1171, as ordered reported, is to 
reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, 
and Reduction Act.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The term ``marine debris'' refers to the trash or litter 
that floats around oceans or washes up on beaches. Marine 
debris is pervasive throughout the world's oceans causing 
potential adverse effects on marine organisms, ocean habitats, 
and human health and safety. The life span of marine debris can 
range from 2 weeks for some paper products to 450 years in the 
case of plastics.
    The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act 
(Public Law 109-449) was enacted in 2006 in response to 
recommendations made by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy in 
its report, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century, released 
September 2004. The Commission report noted gaps in existing 
U.S. marine debris efforts and recommended the establishment of 
a program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) that expands on and complemented the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency's program.
    The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act 
established programs within NOAA and the United States Coast 
Guard (USCG) to help identify, determine sources of, assess, 
reduce, and prevent marine debris and its adverse impacts on 
the marine environment and navigational safety, in coordination 
with non-federal entities.
    The Act also established a Marine Debris Prevention and 
Removal Program within NOAA aimed at reducing and preventing 
the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the 
marine environment and navigational safety. The program 
components included mapping, identification, impact assessment, 
removal and prevention of marine debris, efforts aimed at 
reducing and preventing loss of fishing gear, and outreach and 
education programs. It authorized NOAA to provide grants to 
non-Federal entities involved with those activities.
    Public Law 109-449 also amended the Marine Plastic 
Pollution Research and Control Act by establishing an 
Interagency Committee on Marine Debris to coordinate federal 
activities and cooperate with non-federal entities to create a 
comprehensive program directed at marine debris research and 
other marine debris related activities. It also directed NOAA 
and USCG to jointly develop and promulgate through regulations 
a definition of marine debris. NOAA and USCG promulgated 
regulations to define ``marine debris'' as any persistent solid 
material that is manufactured or processed and directly or 
indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or 
abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. 
Annual reports on marine debris impacts and prevention and 
reduction strategies were required. Lastly, NOAA was required 
to maintain a federal information clearinghouse on marine 
debris source identification for researchers and other 
interested parties to improve marine debris source 
identification, data sharing, and monitoring efforts through 
collaborative research efforts.
    The Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee sent 
Congress a report in January 2010, which outlined activities 
undertaken by the federal departments and agencies under Public 
Law 109-449 for the period of 2008-2009. According to the 
report, NOAA regional offices work closely with local and state 
agencies, other NOAA offices and federal agencies, 
nongovernmental organizations, academia, private industry, and 
the interested public on marine debris issues.
    Public Law 109-449 authorized appropriations of $10 million 
for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 for NOAA to 
implement the Marine Debris Program and Information Clearing 
House. Fiscal year funding for the program ranged from $6.31 
million in 2005, to $5.2 million in 2006 and 2007, to a low of 
$4 million in 2009 to $4.9 million in 2012. From 2005 to 2011, 
NOAA funded 64 projects at about $5.6 million and leveraged 
over $7.3 million in matching funds from non-federal sources. 
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Marine Debris 
Research and Technology Grants program, from 2005-2011, 
supported 46 projects involving fishermen, ports and marinas 
using $2.7 million in NOAA funds coupled with $2.9 million in 
non-federal matching funds.
    H.R. 1171, as introduced, would revise provisions of the 
Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act, including 
renaming the program as the Marine Debris Program.
    The legislation would revise the Marine Debris Program to 
require the NOAA Administrator 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.
    The bill would require the NOAA Administrator to host a 
Global Marine Debris Coordination Conference in 2015 and at 
least every four years thereafter.
    The bill would also create a new definition of marine 
debris. Marine debris would be defined 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.
    During Full Committee consideration of the bill, the 
committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
offered by Congressman John Fleming (R-LA). The amendment makes 
moderate changes to P.L. 109-449. Those changes include: 
striking outdated provisions; renaming the program to the 
Marine Debris Program; revising the program components to 
include ``identifying, determining sources of, assessing, 
preventing, reducing, and removing marine debris''; making the 
annual reports biennial; expanding the confidentiality 
provisions to all industries that submit information; and 
codifying the existing NOAA and USCG marine debris definition. 
The amendment would authorize appropriations at the fiscal year 
2012 level of $4.9 million for each of fiscal years through 
2015.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 1171 was introduced on March 17, 2011, by Congressman 
Sam Farr (D-CA). The bill was referred primarily to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition 
to the Committee on Natural Resources. Within the Committee on 
Natural Resources, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. On December 
15, 2011, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On June 
7, 2012, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. 
The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular 
Affairs was discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman John 
Fleming (R-LA) offered an amendment to the bill; the amendment 
was adopted by unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was 
then adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by unanimous consent.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                    Compliance With House Rule XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 
received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

H.R. 1171--Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Summary: H.R. 1171 would reauthorize and amend the Marine 
Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. The bill would 
authorize the appropriation of $4.9 million annually through 
2015 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) to carry out activities to reduce the amount of marine 
debris (such as plastic and lost fishing gear) in oceans and 
coastal areas.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO 
estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $15 
million over the 2013-2017 period. Enacting H.R. 1171 would not 
affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 1171 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1171 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2013     2014     2015     2016     2017   2013-2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Authorization Level.....................................        5        5        5        0        0        15
Estimated Outlays.......................................        3        4        5        2        1        15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 
1171 will be enacted before the end of 2012 and that the 
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. 
Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for 
similar NOAA activities.
    H.R. 1171 would authorize the appropriation of $4.9 million 
a year through 2015 for NOAA to carry out the Marine Debris 
Program. In 2011, NOAA spent about $4 million to carry out 
activities related to the program. Assuming appropriation of 
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the 
legislation would cost about $15 million over the 2013-2017 
period.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1171 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments.
    Previous CBO estimates: On November 21, 2011, CBO 
transmitted a cost estimate for S. 1119, the Trash Free Seas 
Act of 2011, as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation on November 2, 2011. S. 
1119 would authorize the appropriation of $12 million a year 
over the 2012-2016 period for NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard to 
carry out activities related to the Marine Debris Program. H.R. 
1171 would authorize the appropriation of $4.9 million a year 
through 2015 for NOAA to carry out activities related to that 
program. The CBO cost estimates for the two bills reflect those 
differences.
    On June 19, 2012, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 
1171 as ordered reported by the House Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure on June 7, 2012. The two 
versions of H.R. 1171 are similar and the CBO cost estimates 
are the same.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on 
state, local, and tribal governments: Melissa Merrell; Impact 
on the private sector: Amy Petz.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required 
by clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, this bill does not contain any new budget 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming appropriation of the 
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the 
legislation would cost $15 million over the 2013-2017 period.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill, as ordered reported, is to reauthorize 
and amend the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction 
Act.

                           Earmark Statement

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

         MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION ACT


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Debris [Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction] Act''.

[SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

  [The purposes of this Act are--
          [(1) to help identify, determine sources of, assess, 
        reduce, and prevent marine debris and its adverse 
        impacts on the marine environment and navigation 
        safety;
          [(2) to reactivate the Interagency Marine Debris 
        Coordinating Committee; and
          [(3) to develop a Federal marine debris information 
        clearinghouse.]

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

  The purpose of this Act is to address the adverse impacts of 
marine debris on the United States economy, the marine 
environment, and navigation safety through identification, 
determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, 
and removal of marine debris.

SEC. 3. NOAA MARINE DEBRIS [PREVENTION AND REMOVAL] PROGRAM

  (a) Establishment of Program.--There is established, within 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a Marine 
Debris [Prevention and Removal Program to reduce and prevent] 
Program to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, 
reduce, and remove the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine 
debris on the economy of the United States, the marine 
environment, and navigation safety.
  [(b) Program Components.--The Administrator, acting through 
the Program and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
shall carry out the following activities:
          [(1) Mapping, identification, impact assessment, 
        removal, and prevention.--The Administrator shall, in 
        consultation with relevant Federal agencies, undertake 
        marine debris mapping, identification, impact 
        assessment, prevention, and removal efforts, with a 
        focus on marine debris posing a threat to living marine 
        resources and navigation safety, including--
                  [(A) the establishment of a process, building 
                on existing information sources maintained by 
                Federal agencies such as the Environmental 
                Protection Agency and the Coast Guard, for 
                cataloguing and maintaining an inventory of 
                marine debris and its impacts found in the 
                navigable waters of the United States and the 
                United States exclusive economic zone, 
                including location, material, size, age, and 
                origin, and impacts on habitat, living marine 
                resources, human health, and navigation safety;
                  [(B) measures to identify the origin, 
                location, and projected movement of marine 
                debris within United States navigable waters, 
                the United States exclusive economic zone, and 
                the high seas, including the use of 
                oceanographic, atmospheric, satellite, and 
                remote sensing data; and
                  [(C) development and implementation of 
                strategies, methods, priorities, and a plan for 
                preventing and removing marine debris from 
                United States navigable waters and within the 
                United States exclusive economic zone, 
                including development of local or regional 
                protocols for removal of derelict fishing gear 
                and other marine debris.
          [(2) Reducing and preventing loss of gear.--The 
        Administrator shall improve efforts to reduce adverse 
        impacts of lost and discarded fishing gear on living 
        marine resources and navigation safety, including--
                  [(A) research and development of alternatives 
                to gear posing threats to the marine 
                environment, and methods for marking gear used 
                in specific fisheries to enhance the tracking, 
                recovery, and identification of lost and 
                discarded gear; and
                  [(B) development of effective nonregulatory 
                measures and incentives to cooperatively reduce 
                the volume of lost and discarded fishing gear 
                and to aid in its recovery.
          [(3) Outreach.--The Administrator shall undertake 
        outreach and education of the public and other 
        stakeholders, such as the fishing industry, fishing 
        gear manufacturers, and other marine-dependent 
        industries, and the plastic and waste management 
        industries, on sources of marine debris, threats 
        associated with marine debris and approaches to 
        identify, determine sources of, assess, reduce, and 
        prevent marine debris and its adverse impacts on the 
        marine environment and navigational safety, including 
        outreach and education activities through public-
        private initiatives. The Administrator shall coordinate 
        outreach and education activities under this paragraph 
        with any outreach programs conducted under section 2204 
        of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control 
        Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1915).]
  (b) Program Components.--The Administrator, acting through 
the Program and subject to the availability of appropriations, 
shall--
          (1) identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, 
        reduce, and remove marine debris, with a focus on 
        marine debris posing a threat to living marine 
        resources and navigation safety;
          (2) 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;
          (3) undertake efforts to reduce adverse impacts of 
        lost and discarded fishing gear on living marine 
        resources and navigation safety, including--
                  (A) research and development of alternatives 
                to gear posing threats to the marine 
                environment, and methods for marking gear used 
                in specific fisheries to enhance the tracking, 
                recovery, and identification of lost and 
                discarded gear; and
                  (B) development of effective nonregulatory 
                measures and incentives to cooperatively reduce 
                the volume of lost and discarded fishing gear 
                and to aid in its recovery; and
          (4) undertake outreach and education of the public 
        and other stakeholders on sources of marine debris, 
        threats associated with marine debris, and approaches 
        to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, 
        reduce, and remove marine debris and its adverse 
        impacts on the United States economy, the marine 
        environment, and navigational safety, including 
        outreach and education activities through public-
        private initiatives.
  (c) Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator, acting through 
        the Program, shall enter into cooperative agreements 
        and contracts and provide financial assistance in the 
        form of grants for projects to accomplish the purpose 
        set forth in [section 2(1)] section 2.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(5) Grant criteria and guidelines.--Within 180 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Administrator shall promulgate necessary guidelines for 
        implementation of the grant program, including 
        development of criteria and priorities for grants. In 
        developing those guidelines, the Administrator shall 
        consult with--
                  [(A) the Interagency Committee;
                  [(B) regional fishery management councils 
                established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
                Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 
                et seq.);
                  [(C) State, regional, and local governmental 
                entities with marine debris experience;
                  [(D) marine-dependent industries; and
                  [(E) nongovernmental organizations involved 
                in marine debris research, prevention, or 
                removal activities.]
          [(6)] (5) Project review and approval.--The 
        Administrator shall--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(7)] (6) Project reporting.--Each grantee under this 
        section shall provide periodic reports as required by 
        the Administrator. Each report shall include all 
        information required by the Administrator for 
        evaluating the progress and success in meeting its 
        stated goals, and impact of the grant activities on the 
        marine debris problem.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Reports.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) [Annual progress reports.--Not later than 3 years 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
        biennially thereafter] Biennial progress reports.--
        Biennially, the Interagency Committee, through the 
        chairperson, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives a report that evaluates United States 
        and international progress in meeting the purpose of 
        this Act. The report shall include--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 6. FEDERAL INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE.

  The Administrator, in coordination with the Interagency 
Committee, shall--
          (1) * * *
          (2) take the necessary steps to ensure the 
        confidentiality of such information (especially 
        proprietary information), for any information required 
        by the Administrator to be submitted [by the fishing 
        industry] under this section.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (3) Marine debris.--The term ``marine debris'' means 
        any persistent solid material that is manufactured or 
        processed and directly or indirectly, and intentionally 
        or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the 
        marine environment or the Great Lakes.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (7) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Marine 
        Debris [Prevention and Removal] Program established 
        under section 3.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(3)] (9) United states exclusive economic zone.--The 
        term ``United States exclusive economic zone'' means 
        the zone established by Presidential Proclamation 
        Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, including the 
        ocean waters of the areas referred to as ``eastern 
        special areas'' in article 3(1) of the Agreement 
        between the United States of America and the Union of 
        Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, 
        signed June 1, 1990.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There [are] is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal 
year [2006 through 2010--]
          [(1)] through fiscal year 2015 to the Administrator 
        for carrying out sections 3 and 6, [$10,000,000] 
        $4,900,000, of which no more than 10 percent may be for 
        administrative costs; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                                  
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