19 



citizen participation, the Coast Guard is able to receive reports of 

 garbage discharges on the existing 800 number that was originally 

 developed for oil and chemical spill reports. 



The Coast Guard has taken a number of initiatives to encourage 

 compliance with the pollution discharge regulations both here at 

 home and overseas. We are developing a rule. It is in the Notice of 

 Proposed Rulemaking stage to require that vessels over 40 feet in 

 length maintain records of refuge discharge, and we are pursuing 

 adoption of an international standard requiring the same record- 

 keeping on foreign vessels. 



The Coast Guard recognizes that no enforcement effort is going 

 to be fully effective without a strong educational outreach program 

 about marine pollution. Indeed, as pointed out, we need to educate 

 the recreational boaters also. In an effort to do this, the Coast 

 Guard has developed the pollution discharge restrictions wheel 

 which you showed earlier. It is a hand-held device. It is one that 

 gives you quick and readily accessible answers. 



We have initiated an external environmental education program 

 to specifically target fishing and recreational vessels and marine 

 operators. To assist us with this effort, we have contracted with our 

 good friends of the Center for Marine Conservation and are finaliz- 

 ing an agreement with the Texas General Land Office to provide 

 environmental education and outreach materials. An internal pro- 

 gram will provide Coast Guard folks with the same educational ma- 

 terials because we too must be environmentally sensitive. 



In April, the Coast Guard coordinated a multiagency workshop 

 in support of the World Bank's Organization of the Eastern Carib- 

 bean States Waste Management Project. This project is focused on 

 the Wider Caribbean Region Special Area. The workshop provided 

 international government officials at the minister level and other 

 interested parties with information to facilitate implementation of 

 waste management. 



The cruise ship industry has been a willing participant, a part- 

 ner, if you will, in the recent Coast Guard-coordinated activities 

 seeking to resolve marine debris problems. In February, the Presi- 

 dent of the International Council of Cruise Lines and a Vice Presi- 

 dent of the Princess Cruise Lines participated in a Coast Guard- 

 sponsored MARPOL meeting to discuss this issue and see what we 

 can do to resolve the problems quickly. 



During the recent World Bank-sponsored workshop in Texas, the 

 Florida Caribbean Cruise Association representative reviewed the 

 efforts underway by the industry to comply with the MARPOL re- 

 quirements, and they pledged their support. They pledged industry 

 support and commitment to be a part of the solution to this prob- 

 lem. 



In summary, I believe the cruise ship industry is making an 

 effort to be responsive to the needs of the maritime community. 

 However, just as quickly as I say that, I would note that the Coast 

 Guard will remain vigilant in our enforcement efforts regarding all 

 vessels, including passenger vessels. 



Again, I would like to add our thanks to the work of Al and his 

 wife bringing the case forward and, indeed, I would like to talk 

 about that issue a bit later. Thank you, sir. 



[Statement of Admiral Henn may be found at end of hearing.] 



