22 



studies, we have noted that plastic pellets, which are the raw feed- 

 stock for manufacturing plastic items, are virtually ubiquitous, and 

 as a result, we are working with the Society of Plastic Industries to 

 establish an awareness campaign throughout that industry on the 

 effects of plastic pellet release into the environment. 



Many people don't realize that the trash that they may throw 

 into the street today can be washed down the storm sewers by rain 

 and out to the nearest waterway tomorrow. To better control these 

 sources, we are strengthening our regulations under the Clean 

 Water Act and developing technical guidance from municipalities 

 to use to improve the quality of their storm sewer and CSO efflu- 

 ent. We are working as well to advocate the recycling and reuse of 

 plastic and other materials. 



To better educate the public, which can be a significant source of 

 marine debris, we have developed a marine debris curriculum for 

 grade school students to educate these children on the impacts of 

 marine debris especially plastic, teach them pollution prevention 

 techniques, and we are working on a Spanish translation of this 

 curriculum which we think will be an excellent teaching tool for 

 the Gulf of Mexico area and the wider Caribbean. 



So whether from land or from ships, the biggest source of debris 

 of our waterways is people who don't know or care about the im- 

 pacts of trash, and the challenge before us is to change the under- 

 standing and attitude of these people, implement cost effective and 

 environmentally acceptable alternatives. Thank you very much, 

 Mr. Chairman. That concludes my testimony. 



[Statement of Mr. Wayland may be found at end of hearing.] 



Mr. Tauzin. Thank you very much, Mr. Wayland. Our final wit- 

 ness will be Mr. John T. Estes, President of the International 

 Council of Cruise Lines, the ICCL. Mr. Estes, we are pleased to wel- 

 come you and receive your testimony at this time, sir. 



STATEMENT OF JOHN T. ESTES, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL 

 COUNCIL OF CRUISE LINES 



Mr. Estes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have submitted a state- 

 ment which I understand will be part of the proceedings. 



Mr. Tauzin. Yes, sir. The written statements of all the witnesses 

 are made a part of the record. We would appreciate a summary of 

 that statement at this time. 



Mr. Estes. Thank you, sir. Let me just start by saying, Mr. 

 Chairman, we do recognize the urgency, the need, and the serious- 

 ness of this problem. Our industry is environmentally sensitive, it 

 is environmentally committed, and it is an environmentally con- 

 cerned industry. 



I know you must be asking yourself and some of your colleagues 

 are probably asking themselves also how can he make a statement 

 like that after seeing Al's video and after looking at some of the 

 Admiral's charts up here. Mr. Chairman, we apologize for the in- 

 discretion that occurred. We are doing everything we can, every- 

 thing humanly possible to correct this problem. These are indiscre- 

 tions, and they do not represent the policy of this industry, nor of 

 any of the members of our Association. We will continue to do ev- 

 erything in our power to correct the problem. 



