U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 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;

(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.

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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