HOUSE BILL REPORT

HJM 4037

BYRepresentatives Spanel, Sutherland, Beck, Rust, Walker, May, Fox, Pruitt, Unsoeld, D. Sommers, Cole, Basich, Sayan, Sprenkle, K. Wilson, Kremen, Leonard, Braddock, Schmidt, Jesernig, S. Wilson, Jacobsen, Miller, Winsley, Nelson, Todd and Anderson

Requesting Congress to appropriate funds to implement the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, Pruitt, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

FEBRUARY 4, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Dumping plastic and other garbage from ships and offshore platforms is considered by many to be a growing environmental problem.  It is estimated that over five million metric tons of litter are dumped into the world's oceans annually.  Plastic products represent an increasing percentage of this total, and are especially troublesome because they do not degrade readily. Large numbers of birds, fish, seals, turtles, and sea lions die every year from entrapment by, or ingestion of, plastic products. Seventy-five to ninety percent of all beach garbage is estimated to result from offshore sources.

The 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, attended by over sixty countries worldwide, established voluntary guidelines and measures to address these problems.  Each country is responsible for enforcing the convention agreements for its own ships. Annex V provisions (guidelines adopted by the convention) specifically prohibit the dumping of all plastics into the sea, and regulate the dumping of other garbage.

In 1987, the President and Congress enacted the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, which formally adopted Annex V provisions, and established research, enforcement, and education programs. Three million dollars was authorized for implementation of these programs, but none has been appropriated.

The Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act applies to the navigable waters of the U.S. as well as to all other waters and vessels over which the U.S. has jurisdiction, including the area within the exclusive economic zone. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcement of the regulations.

SUMMARY:

The Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Washington urge Congress and the President to appropriate three million dollars for the implementation of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Harriet Spanel.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Education is desperately needed to address the problems of plastics in the marine environment.  Congress has authorized money for this and we need to ask for the appropriation.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.