83 



4 



volunteers reported finding 8,280 plastic syringes on U.S. 

 beaches in just three hours. The highest percentage of syringes 

 were reported from Puerto Rico where 1,042 were found on 77 miles 

 of beach. The number of syringes reported from the three states 

 of particular interest to this committee were 2,111 on 438 miles 

 of California beaches, 1,105 on 169 miles of Texas beaches and, 

 160 on 2 6 Tiiles of New Jersey beaches.^ 



There is a positive correlation between a high percentage of 

 sewage-associated wastes and relatively high percentages of 

 medical wastes, supporting the assumption that some medical 

 wastes enter the marine environment though sewer and storm drain 

 systems. To address the sewer and storm drain problem, the 

 Center for Marine Conservation is conducting a "Million Points of 

 Blight" campaign. The goal of this caitmaign is to stencil one 

 million storm drains in the United States with a message to 

 educate the general public about the connections between storm 

 drains and our nation's waterways. To date more than eighty 

 state and local government agencies and community organizations 

 are part of the Center's "Million Points of Blight" network and 

 have stencilled over 94,800 storm drains. 

 Floatable Debris and Recreational Water Safety and Public Health 



Debris on our beaches is more than an eyesore. Much of this 

 debris, particularly plastic materials, is known to endanger 

 birds, fish, and marine mammals. Plastic debris can harm or kill 

 wildlife when it is either ingested or when animals become 

 entangled in it. The threats plastics pose to marine life were 



