[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45555-45560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21261]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 909

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 151

[USCG-2007-0164]
RIN 0648-AV68; 1625-AB24


Definition of Marine Debris for Purposes of the Marine Debris 
Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce; Coast Guard, Department 
of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NOAA and the Coast Guard are defining ``marine debris'' for 
purposes of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act 
(the Act). The Act requires NOAA and the Coast Guard to jointly develop 
a definition and promulgate it through regulations; this rule 
represents the agencies' compliance with the Act. For the purposes of 
the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act only, marine 
debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is

[[Page 45556]]

manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or 
unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment 
or the Great Lakes.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments and related material received from the public, as 
well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the 
docket, are part of docket USCG-2007-0164 and are available for 
inspection and copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You also may find 
this docket on the Internet by going to http://www.regulations.gov, 
selecting the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the 
screen, typing USCG-2007-0164 into the Docket ID box, pressing Enter, 
and then clicking on the item in the Docket ID column.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule, 
call Dr. Holly A. Bamford, NOAA Marine Debris Program, telephone 301-
713-2989, or David Major, Environmental Standards Division, U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, telephone 202-372-1402. If you have questions about 
viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents for Preamble

I. Abbreviations
II. Regulatory History
III. Background and Purpose
IV. Discussion of Comments and Changes
    A. Comments on the Purpose of the Definition
    B. Comments on ``Marine Environment''
    C. Comments on ``Solid''
    D. Comments on ``Persistent''
    E. Comments on ``Manufactured or Processed''
    F. Comments on ``Disposed of or Abandoned Into''
    G. Comments on Discharges in Compliance With Law
    H. Comments on Items Placed in the Marine Environment by Permit
    I. Comments on Medical Waste and Hazardous Materials
    J. Comments on Consultation With the Interagency Marine Debris 
Coordinating Committee
V. Regulatory Analyses
    A. Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Small Entities
    C. Assistance for Small Entities
    D. Collection of Information
    E. Federalism
    F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    G. Taking of Private Property
    H. Civil Justice Reform
    I. Protection of Children
    J. Indian Tribal Governments
    K. Energy Effects
    L. Technical Standards
    M. Department of Commerce Docket Number
    N. Environment

I. Abbreviations

IMDCC Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
FR Federal Register
MARPOL 73/78 International Convention for the Prevention of 
Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Program NOAA's Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program
NOS National Ocean Service
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
NRC National Research Council
OMB Office of Management and Budget
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Regulatory History

    On May 27, 2008, NOAA and the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking entitled ``Definition of Marine Debris for Purposes 
of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Pollution Act'' in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 30322). The title of the rulemaking has been 
corrected by replacing the word ``pollution'' with ``reduction,'' to 
reflect the correct name of the Act. NOAA and the Coast Guard received 
six letters, containing a total of 24 comments, from the public, and 
four letters, containing 17 comments, from Federal agencies commenting 
on the proposed rule. All comments are discussed below. No public 
meeting was requested and none was held.

III. Background and Purpose

    As society has developed new uses for materials, particularly 
plastics, the variety and quantity of items found in the marine 
environment has increased dramatically. These products range from 
common domestic material (e.g., bags, cups, bottles, balloons) to 
industrial products (e.g., strapping bands, plastic sheeting, hard 
hats, resin pellets) to lost or discarded fishing gear (e.g., nets, 
buoys, traps, lines, light sticks).
    In 2006, Congress passed the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, 
and Reduction Act (the Act) (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958 (2006)), with the 
purpose of identifying, determining the sources of, assessing, 
reducing, and preventing marine debris and its adverse impacts on the 
marine environment and navigation safety.
    The Act makes permanent a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal 
Program within NOAA (NOAA Program) that intends to reduce and prevent 
the occurrence and adverse impacts of marine debris on the marine 
environment and navigation safety. The NOAA Program includes mapping, 
identification, impact assessment, removal, and prevention of marine 
debris, with a focus on threats to living marine resources, including 
commercial fisheries and species protected under the Endangered Species 
Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the habitat upon which they 
depend. The NOAA Program uses non-regulatory measures to reduce and 
prevent marine debris and the loss of fishing gear, including the 
development of local or regional protocols for lost gear reduction and 
prevention. Examples of such measures include new fishing gear 
technology, implementation of incentives to reduce lost gear, outreach 
and education to commercial users and the general public, and other 
non-regulatory measures to minimize the volume of marine debris and 
lost and discarded fishing gear, and to aid in its recovery. The Act 
authorizes NOAA to provide grants to entities for the research, 
prevention, and reduction of marine debris.
    The Act requires the Coast Guard to enforce the International 
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as 
modified by the 1978 Protocol (MARPOL 73/78), Annex V, and the Act to 
Prevent Pollution from Ships, 33 USC 1901-1915 (1996). The Coast Guard 
will continue to monitor and enforce the requirements of these acts 
among the appropriate regulated industries and communities. The Coast 
Guard intends to increase international cooperation to reduce marine 
debris, and to maintain its voluntary reporting program in order to 
ensure the reporting of damage to vessels and disruption to navigation 
caused by marine debris. The Act also required the Coast Guard to 
submit to Congress a report evaluating the Coast Guard's progress on 
these initiatives; the report required under 33 U.S.C. 1953(b) was 
completed in 2007. In addition, the Act required the Coast Guard to 
obtain a report from the National Research Council (NRC) on the 
effectiveness of international and domestic measures to prevent and 
reduce marine debris and its impacts; this report was completed and 
presented to Congress by NRC in September, 2008.
    The Act also reactivated the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating 
Committee (IMDCC), an interagency Federal body responsible for 
developing and recommending comprehensive and

[[Page 45557]]

multi-disciplinary approaches to reduce the sources and impacts of 
marine debris to the nation's marine environment, natural resources, 
public safety, and economy. The IMDCC meets quarterly to ensure 
coordination of research, monitoring, education, and regulatory actions 
addressing the persistent marine debris problem.
    As codified in Title 33 of the United States Code, the Act requires 
NOAA and the Coast Guard, in consultation with the IMDCC, to ``jointly 
develop and promulgate through regulations a definition of the term 
`marine debris' for the purposes of this Act.'' 33 U.S.C. 
1954(b)(2006). The Act expressly limits the application of the 
definition of marine debris to the implementation and requirements of 
the Act. The Act does not authorize NOAA or the Coast Guard to 
undertake regulatory actions other than the promulgation of this 
definition, and the definition of marine debris does not affect the 
regulatory or management activities of other Federal agencies.
    NOAA and the Coast Guard worked together to develop and propose a 
definition, taking into account both agencies' responsibilities under 
the Act. The term ``marine debris'' has a variety of meanings to the 
many entities working in and affecting the marine environment. The 
definition promulgated by this rule, however, focuses on solid debris 
from land-based and ocean-based sources. While NOAA and the Coast Guard 
considered alternative definitions, this definition will allow NOAA to 
consider the broadest possible range of marine debris activities for 
grant and research support as provided in the Act. The definition will 
also provide the Coast Guard sufficient parameters to conduct useful 
and focused studies and reports required by the Act.
    As required by the Act, the two agencies consulted with the IMDCC 
during the development of this definition. Some IMDCC members suggested 
that the definition include the term ``unauthorized'' in order to 
exclude materials explicitly permitted to be discharged into the marine 
environment. NOAA and the Coast Guard did not include the term 
``unauthorized'' in the definition. As discussed in more detail below, 
such a limited definition would be inconsistent with the objectives of 
the Act, which are to identify, determine the sources of, assess, 
reduce, and prevent the full range of marine debris and its adverse 
effects on the marine environment and navigation safety. Authority to 
dispose of or abandon material that may be considered marine debris as 
defined in this regulation is not affected by the promulgation of this 
definition or the implementation of the programs established pursuant 
to the Act. Some IMDCC members also suggested that the definition of 
marine debris be limited to debris with adverse effects on the marine 
environment. NOAA and the Coast Guard did not include this limitation 
because it would prevent the NOAA program from supporting or conducting 
research where impacts of debris on marine resources are unknown or 
uncertain. Limiting the range of research opportunities in this way 
would diminish the ability of NOAA and the Coast Guard to fulfill the 
objectives of the Act.
    On May 27, 2008, the two agencies published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing a definition of marine debris for purposes 
of the Act. The proposed definition read as follows: ``For the purposes 
of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 
1951-1958 (2006)) only, marine debris is defined 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.''

IV. Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard and NOAA received 10 letters containing a total of 
41 comments on the proposed definition. After consideration of all the 
comments, and for the reasons set out below, the Coast Guard and NOAA 
adopt the proposed definition without changes.

A. Comments on the Purpose of the Definition

    Several commenters approached the definition of marine debris from 
an enforcement perspective, assuming that items within the definition 
of marine debris would necessarily be subject to anti-pollution 
mandates. An item that satisfies the definition of marine debris may, 
in some cases, be addressed by anti-pollution laws that prohibit the 
disposal or abandonment of the material. However, the fact that a 
material satisfies the definition of marine debris does not mean its 
disposal or abandonment is prohibited.
    The Act does not prohibit the disposal or abandonment of marine 
debris, nor does it provide regulatory authority to do so. Instead, the 
Act is intended to help identify, assess, reduce, and prevent marine 
debris. See Section III of this preamble for details on agency 
involvement in addressing these areas. The definition of marine debris 
will be used only for the implementation of the Act.

B. Comments on ``Marine Environment''

    Two commenters asked what areas are included in the term ``marine 
environment.'' NOAA and the Coast Guard use the term ``marine 
environment'' consistently with its use in other sections of the United 
States Code. The term ``marine environment'' is defined in various 
parts of the United States Code to include the high seas, exclusive 
economic zone, territorial sea, coastal waters, Great Lakes, navigable 
waters of the United States, and the lands therein and thereunder, and 
adjacent shorelines and shorelands. NOAA and the Coast Guard 
specifically included the Great Lakes in the definition of marine 
debris to avoid confusion. The marine environment does not include 
airspace above bodies of water.
    One commenter requested that the term ``marine environment'' be 
replaced with the term ``aquatic environment'' in order to cover debris 
originating from land-based sources via creeks and tributaries. As 
explained in part F below, such debris is already addressed by the 
definition.

C. Comments on ``Solid''

    Three commenters asked whether specific materials they consider to 
be ``semi-solid'' would be included within the definition of marine 
debris, or encouraged that such materials be included. Marine debris, 
pursuant to the Act, is defined as any persistent solid material and 
therefore does not include semi-solids, such as tar balls and sewer 
cakes. NOAA and the Coast Guard concluded that the Act was not intended 
to cover materials other than solid materials. Internationally and 
domestically, the generally accepted usage of ``marine debris,'' 
including in research, refers to solid items. For example, all of the 
marine debris items catalogued in the 1988 Report of the Interagency 
Task Force on Persistent Debris are solids.

D. Comments on ``Persistent''

    Three commenters asked for clarification of the word ``persistent'' 
as used in the definition. The term ``persistent'' is intended to 
capture items that degrade slowly, as noted in the CEQ Ocean Blueprint 
for the 21st Century and the House Report on the Act (H.R. Rep. No. 
109-332, pt. 2, at 1759 (2006)). This also is consistent with the 1988 
Report of the Interagency Task Force on Persistent Debris, in which 
small pieces of plastic and plastic particles are recognized as marine

[[Page 45558]]

debris. Persistency is affected by material composition, movement 
within the water column, and exposure to sunlight, among other things. 
The ability of marine debris to travel long distances away from the 
point of origin is taken into account in considering persistency.

E. Comments on ``Manufactured or Processed''

    Five commenters requested the definition be modified to include 
``naturally occurring'' debris such as downed trees, or expressed 
interest in the treatment of lost agricultural cargo. The Coast Guard 
and NOAA concluded that organic matter that is not processed or 
manufactured, that enters the marine environment, would not meet the 
definition of marine debris within the context of the Act, which 
focuses on manufactured and processed items. To the extent that organic 
matter has been subject to manufacturing or processing, those items may 
be considered marine debris if they satisfy the remainder of the 
definition.
    One commenter requested the definition be modified to include 
materials ``intended to be processed.'' The commenter provided the 
specific example of raw materials used for plastic production, namely 
pre-production plastic pellets. All plastic items have been created 
through a manufacturing process, as they do not exist naturally in the 
environment. Therefore, plastic in any form and of any size already is 
included in the definition of marine debris. Similar manufactured 
persistent solids mentioned by commenters, such as golf balls, also are 
considered marine debris.

F. Comments on ``Disposed of or Abandoned Into''

    Commenters described a variety of means by which material can be 
disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment, such as transport 
by wind or storm drains, and inquired how or whether the manner of 
transport affects whether or not the material is within this definition 
of marine debris. The means by which material enters into marine 
environment does not affect whether that material is considered marine 
debris. As noted in the preamble above, a variety of both sea and 
landside events and activities, such as storm water runoff, wind, or 
natural disasters, may ultimately result in materials being abandoned 
or disposed of in the marine environment. For that reason, the 
definition of marine debris includes materials disposed of or abandoned 
``directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally'' into the 
marine environment.

G. Comments on Discharges in Compliance With Law

    Three commenters commented on whether the definition of marine 
debris should include materials discharged in compliance with relevant 
enforcement regimes. A persistent solid material that is manufactured 
or processed, and disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment, 
is considered marine debris even when the disposal or abandonment is 
legally permissible. As noted above, NOAA and the Coast Guard define 
marine debris exclusively for the purposes of the Act, and the Act does 
not create an enforcement regime. Existing enforcement regimes 
referenced in the Act, such as the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships 
and MARPOL Annex V, allow the legal discharge of items into the sea. 
Congress did not state in the Act or legislative history that a 
definition exclude those items. Moreover, it would be impractical to 
classify items based on source rather than location. For example, a tin 
can located in the sea may have been discharged in accordance with 
MARPOL or may have blown into the ocean from a pier. In both 
circumstances, considering the tin can to be marine debris fulfills the 
intent of the Act.
    The Act is non-regulatory and overlaps with current enforcement 
regimes established by other laws. The fact that an item is legally 
disposed of or abandoned does not prevent it being studied or tracked. 
Environmental goals can be achieved through non-regulatory means, 
including study and the promotion of new methods to prevent, reduce, 
and mitigate the effects of debris. Thus, marine debris of any type is 
open for research or other activities as specified in the Act.

H. Comments on Items Placed in the Marine Environment by Permit

    Four commenters raised concerns that materials placed in the marine 
environment by public agencies or under permit by public agencies--such 
as artificial reefs, marine structures, vessels, rigs, pipelines, and 
navigational and weather buoys--may be deemed marine debris. The Coast 
Guard and NOAA do not consider such items disposed of or abandoned, 
because the items are intact, on station, and monitored. However, an 
item or piece of an item originally placed or permitted in the marine 
environment, but that subsequently breaks apart, becomes lost, or is no 
longer actively monitored, could be considered disposed of or abandoned 
and would meet the definition of marine debris. The Coast Guard and 
NOAA emphasize that a government approval or permission for disposal or 
abandonment of material into the marine environment does not exclude 
that material from research, removal, or outreach activities 
contemplated by the Act. For example, a tire reef off the coast of 
Florida, legally placed there in 1972, has fragmented and allowed tires 
to drift across the seafloor; those tires are considered marine debris 
for purposes of the Act.

I. Comments on Medical Waste and Hazardous Materials

    Three commenters expressed concern about medical waste, such as 
syringes, located in the marine environment, and about floating 
containers containing hazardous, or unknown but potentially hazardous, 
substances. Solid medical waste material such as syringes and floating 
or submerged containers are marine debris under the definition. 
Hazardous material response is not within the scope of the Act; 
however, the remediation of many types of marine debris, including 
hazardous materials covered by the Comprehensive Environmental Response 
and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), is provided for by a 
variety of statutes.

J. Comments on Consultation With the Interagency Marine Debris 
Coordinating Committee

    Two commenters questioned the lack of consensus with some members 
of the IMDCC regarding the definition of marine debris. The Act directs 
NOAA and the Coast Guard to consult with the IMDCC in developing the 
definition of marine debris, and this consultation took place at a 
number of quarterly IMDCC meetings through August, 2007. NOAA and the 
Coast Guard have addressed the comments made by IMDCC members in this 
preamble and will continue to work with the IMDCC in implementing the 
Act.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    The Coast Guard and NOAA developed this rule after considering 
numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below is 
a summary of our analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive 
orders.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not 
require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 
6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and

[[Page 45559]]

Budget has not reviewed it under that Order.
    Public comments on the NPRM are summarized in Section IV of this 
preamble, ``Discussion of Comments and Changes.'' NOAA and the Coast 
Guard received no public comments and made no changes that would alter 
the assessment of impacts in the NPRM. A summary of the assessment 
follows.
    The Act requires the Coast Guard and NOAA to jointly develop and 
promulgate a definition of marine debris for the purposes of the Act. 
Accordingly, this rulemaking creates a joint Coast Guard and NOAA 
definition of the term ``marine debris'' for the purposes of the Act. 
The Act does not authorize NOAA or the Coast Guard to undertake 
regulatory or management activities of other Federal agencies. Instead, 
the drafting agencies expect to use the definition of marine debris for 
the administration of research and educational grants. Such grants may 
map, identify, or assess the impacts of marine debris.

B. Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the 
drafting agencies considered whether this rule would have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term 
``small entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    In the NPRM, NOAA and the Coast Guard certified under 5 U.S.C. 
605(b) that the proposed rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. See the ``Regulatory 
Flexibility Act'' section of the NPRM for the complete threshold 
analysis. NOAA and the Coast Guard found no additional data or 
information that would change the certification in the NPRM.
    Therefore, the Coast Guard and NOAA certify under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) 
that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

C. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), NOAA and the Coast Guard will 
assist all entities, including small entities, in understanding this 
rule. NOAA and the Coast Guard do not retaliate against any entity, 
including small entities, that may question or complain about this rule 
or any policy or action of the NOAA or the Coast Guard.

D. Collection of Information

    This rule calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

E. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. NOAA and the Coast Guard have 
analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does 
not have implications for federalism.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more in any 
one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, NOAA 
and the Coast Guard do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in 
this preamble.

G. Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights.

H. Civil Justice Reform

    This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, 
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

I. Protection of Children

    NOAA and the Coast Guard have analyzed this rule under Executive 
Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and 
Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and 
does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that 
might disproportionately affect children.

J. Indian Tribal Governments

    This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 
because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

K. Energy Effects

    NOAA and the Coast Guard have analyzed this rule under Executive 
Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. NOAA and the Coast Guard have 
determined that it is not a ``significant energy action'' under that 
order because it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse 
effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. The Administrator 
of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated 
it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a 
Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

L. Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, NOAA and the 
Coast Guard did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

M. Department of Commerce Docket Number

    The clearance docket number for the Department of Commerce is: 
070615197-91195-02.

N. Environment

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which 
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and NOAA has analyzed 
the proposed rule under NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, which sets 
forth NOAA's

[[Page 45560]]

environmental review procedures for implementing NEPA. The agencies 
have concluded that this action is one of a category of actions that do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule is categorically excluded under section 6(b) of 
the ``Appendix to National Environmental Policy Act: Coast Guard 
Procedures for Categorical Exclusions, Notice of Final Agency Policy'' 
(67 FR 48244, July 23, 2002) and NOAA NAO 216-6 sections 5.05 and 
6.03(c)(3)(i). This rule involves congressionally mandated regulations 
designed to improve or protect the environment. An environmental 
analysis checklist and the relevant categorical exclusion 
determinations are available in the docket where indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 909

    Marine resources, Marine debris, Marine pollution, and Ocean 
dumping.

33 CFR Part 151

    Administrative practice and procedure, Oil pollution, Penalties, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and Water pollution control.

    NOAA signature.

    Dated: August 19, 2009.
John H. Dunnigan,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
    Coast Guard signature.

    Dated: August 20, 2009.
B.M. Salerno,
RADM, Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and 
Stewardship.

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, NOAA adds 15 CFR part 909 
and the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 151 as follows:
0
1. 15 CFR Part 909 is added to read as follows:

PART 909--MARINE DEBRIS


Sec.  909.1  Definition of marine debris for the purposes of the Marine 
Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1951-1958 (2006).


Sec.  909.1  Definition of marine debris for the purposes of the Marine 
Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.

    (a) Marine debris. For the purposes of the Marine Debris Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958 (2006)) only, marine 
debris is defined 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.
    (b) NOAA and the Coast Guard have jointly promulgated the 
definition of marine debris in this part. Coast Guard's regulation may 
be found in 33 CFR 151.3000.

PART 151--VESSELS CARRYING OIL, NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES, GARBAGE, 
MUNICIPAL OR COMMERCIAL WASTE, AND BALLAST WATER

0
2. Add Subpart E to Part 151, to read as follows:

Subpart E--Definition of Marine Debris for the purposes of the 
Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1951-1958 (2006); 33 CFR 1.05-1; 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.


Sec.  151.3000  Definition of Marine Debris for the purposes of the 
Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.

    (a) Marine debris. For the purposes of the Marine Debris Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958 (2006)) only, marine 
debris is defined 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.
    (b) NOAA and the Coast Guard have jointly promulgated the 
definition of marine debris in this part. NOAA's regulation may be 
found in 15 CFR part 909.

[FR Doc. E9-21261 Filed 9-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P; 4910-15-P