Marine Plastic Pollution Prevention Act of 1987
Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act - Title I: Regulation of Disposal of Certain Materials at Sea - Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to enforce specified regulations promulgated under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (the Annex V Regulations) and also to prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this Act.
Prohibits a person from disposing of any material from a ship of U.S. registry, or nationality, or operated under the authority of the United States, in violation of Annex V. Prohibits such disposal from a foreign vessel when such disposal is made from within a specified distance from the United States as enumerated under the Annex V Regulations. Requires any disposal violations to be immediately reported to the Secretary, and sets forth penalties for such violations.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to refuse or revoke the clearance or the permit to proceed of a ship liable for a penalty under this Act. Directs the Secretary to undertake inspections and investigations to enforce the provisions of this Act. Directs the President to ensure public-vessel compliance with the provisions of this Act.
Title II: Negotiations, Research, and Regulation Regarding Fishing With Plastic Driftnets - Directs the President, acting through the Secretary of State and in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and of the Interior, to promptly initiate negotiations with each foreign government that conducts driftnet fishing operations that result in the taking of marine resources of the United States: (1) to arrange for cooperative monitoring of such operations; and (2) to agree on methods to reduce the unintended mortality of marine resources during such operations.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to conduct a study on the impacts of driftnet fishing on marine resources of the United States. Directs the Secretary to assess the need for developing a system for the marking, registration, and identification of driftnets in order to determine the origin of lost, discarded, or abandoned driftnets or fragments of driftnets. Directs the Secretary to evaluate the feasibility of developing decomposable material for use as fishnets.
Establishes the Aleutian Island Seabird Protection Zone surrounding the Aleutian Islands off Alaska within which no driftnet fishing is permitted. Provides for the enforcement of such prohibition and penalties for its violation.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to conduct a study on the impacts of discarded plastic materials on the marine environment, together with recommendations.
Directs the President, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress the results of negotiations regarding driftnet fishing by foreign vessels. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, within 18 months after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress regarding various studies required under this Act.
Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for FY 1988 and 1989 to carry out this Act.
H.R. 3674 passed in Senate relating to this measure.