33 USC § 1915 - Plastic pollution public education program

(a) Outreach program

(1) In general

Not later than April 1, 1988, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall jointly commence and thereafter conduct a public outreach program to educate the public (including recreational boaters, fishermen, and other users of the marine environment) regarding—

(A) the harmful effects of plastic pollution;

(B) the need to reduce such pollution;

(C) the need to recycle plastic materials;

(D) the need to reduce the quantity of plastic debris in the marine environment; and

(E) the requirements under this Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) with respect to ships and ports, and the authority of citizens to report violations of this Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).

(2) Authorized activities

(A) Public outreach program

A public outreach program under paragraph (1) may include—

(i) developing and implementing a voluntary boaters’ pledge program;

(ii) workshops with interested groups;

(iii) public service announcements;

(iv) distribution of leaflets and posters; and

(v) any other means appropriate to educating the public.

(B) Grants and cooperative agreements

To carry out this section, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency are authorized to award grants, enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate officials of other Federal agencies and agencies of States and political subdivisions of States and with public and private entities, and provide other financial assistance to eligible recipients.

(C) Consultation

In developing outreach initiatives for groups that are subject to the requirements of this title and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall consult with—

(i) the heads of State agencies responsible for implementing State boating laws; and

(ii) the heads of other enforcement agencies that regulate boaters or commercial fishermen.

(b) Citizen Pollution Patrols

The Secretary of Commerce, along with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall conduct a program to encourage the formation of volunteer groups, to be designated as “Citizen Pollution Patrols”, to assist in monitoring, reporting, cleanup, and prevention of ocean and shoreline pollution.

Source

(Pub. L. 100–220, title II, § 2204,Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1466; Pub. L. 104–324, title VIII, § 802(c),Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3945.)

References in Text

This Act and this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(E), (2)(C), probably should all 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. (a)(1)(E), (2)(C), 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 formerly set out as a note under section 6981 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

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

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–324, § 802(c)(1)–(4), struck out “for a period of at least 3 years,” after “conduct” in introductory provisions and added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–324, § 802(c)(5), added par. (2) and struck out heading and text of former par. (2). Text read as follows: “A public outreach program under paragraph (1) may include—

“(A) workshops with interested groups;

“(B) public service announcements;

“(C) distribution of leaflets and posters; and

“(D) any other means appropriate to educating the public.”

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.