§ 1915. — Plastic pollution public education program.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC1915]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 33--PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
Sec. 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.
(Pub. L. 100-220, title II, Sec. 2204, Dec. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 1466;
Pub. L. 104-324, title VIII, Sec. 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 (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 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, Sec. 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, Sec. 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.
