which is updated every three years, includes an inventory of 

 existing Federal programs, an analysis of the extent to which 

 priority pollution problems are being addressed, and recom- 

 mendations for improving the overall effectiveness of Federal 

 efforts to study and monitor marine pollution issues. The 

 most recent Plan was completed in September 1985 and, as 

 noted in previous Annual Reports, the Commission participated 

 in a 1984 workshop convened by the Office to identify priority 

 marine pollution issues to be addressed in that Plan. During 

 the workshop, the Commission representatives raised the problem 

 of marine debris as a significant marine pollutant and the 

 matter was subsequently addressed in the 1985 Plan. 



A revised Federal Pollution Plan is scheduled for comple- 

 tion in September 1988. To help update it, the National 

 Marine Pollution Program Office convened a Workshop on National 

 Marine Pollution Problems and Needs on 10-11 June 1987. 

 Representatives of agencies and organizations from both govern- 

 mental and non-governmental sectors were invited to participate. 

 Five Working Groups were established, including one on Persis- 

 tent Marine Debris, to identify priority information needs 

 and suggest appropriate changes in related Federal research 

 and monitoring efforts. A representative of the Commission 

 participated in the Workshop's Working Group on Persistent 

 Marine Debris. During the Working Group meeting, the partici- 

 pants listed 14 types of persistent debris of particular 

 concern (e.g., fishing nets, fishing traps, plastic pellets, 

 strapping bands, etc.) and identified and ranked 31 important 

 research needs. The results of all five Working Groups will 

 be incorporated into a final Workshop report, which will be 

 considered by the Office in developing the next five-year 

 plan. During 1988, the Commission looks forward to working 

 with the Office to ensure that the problems of marine debris 

 and plastic pollution are addressed in an appropriate manner 

 in the forthcoming plan. 



Domestic Policy Council Task Force on Marine Debris 



On 2 April 1987, a letter signed by 30 Members of the 

 U.S. Senate was sent to the President. In their letter, the 

 Senators expressed their concern about the increasing amounts 

 and effects of plastic debris accumulating in ocean and coastal 

 waters of the United States. Citing the broad range of sources 

 contributing to the problem (e.g. , commercial and recreational 

 fishermen, recreational boaters, merchant and military ships, 

 sewage and storm water discharges, etc . ) and the related 

 responsibilities of many Federal agencies (including those in 

 the Departments of Commerce, Interior, Transportation, and 

 Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency) , it was 

 suggested that a high-level, interagency task force be estab- 

 lished to assess the problem and potential solutions. 



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