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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 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.
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