§ 1914. — Coordination.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC1914]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 33--PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
Sec. 1914. Coordination
(a) Establishment of Marine Debris Coordinating Committee
The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a Marine Debris
Coordinating Committee.
(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 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, Sec. 2203, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1466;
Pub. L. 104-324, title VIII, Sec. 802(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat.
3944.)
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 (Sec. 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 (Sec. 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
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.
