Someone called it the environmental equivalent of the Rodney 

 King tape. This video evidence is with us today. 



Princess Cruise Lines ended up paying a criminal fine of 

 $500,000, the largest fine ever assessed for an APPS violation. We 

 will see the video taken by Al. We have set up two television 

 screens. Because the video was taken at night, it is somewhat diffi- 

 cult to see. You may have to get up and actually stand up near the 

 TV screen to see it clearly. If any of you want to do so, please feel 

 free to do that. We will run it. If you would like to see it again, we 

 will back it up and revisit it. Any members who would want to at 

 this time or any members of the audience who want to get closer to 

 the screen, you are welcome to do so. Can we cut the lights now? 

 And, Al, I will recognize you to comment on the video as it is 

 shown. Jim, if you will start the video? There is voice on the video? 



[Videotape is played.] 



Mr. Tauzin. For the members of the committee, the wheel that 

 was mentioned in the newscast that describes what can and what 

 cannot be tossed overboard is this document here. We will pass it 

 around. We have a couple, and we will pass it around for your 

 review. Al, would you start off for us today by simply describing for 

 us how you came upon this scene and a little bit more about the 

 video and what you actually saw — what we saw on the tape? 



STATEMENT OF ALVIN LEVETT, PASSENGER ON CRUISE SHIP 

 WHO TOOK VIDEOTAPE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING 



Mr. Levett. Good morning. 



Mr. Tauzin. Could you bring the mike closer to you, Al, so we 

 can hear? 



Mr. Levett. Good morning. I am pleased to be invited here today 

 to speak to you on this important subject. We hope that our experi- 

 ence and the videotape that we took, may serve to shine the light 

 on the illegal practice of marine pollution and ultimately contrib- 

 ute to positive changes in the way that business is conducted at 

 sea. 



I will briefly outline the major events of the case and the actions 

 that we took over the past 18 months which ultimately led to 

 criminal charges against Princess Cruise Lines. As you will see, the 

 videotape, while a critical element in this case, taken by itself, 

 might not have resulted in the case being successfully resolved. It 

 took an active role and determination on our part as well as en- 

 couragement from the Center for Marine Conservation and the ef- 

 forts of the FBI and Justice Departments to make the system work. 



On October 25, 1991, my wife and I witnessed and videotaped the 

 disposal at sea of trash in plastic garbage bags. The incident took 

 place off the Regal Princess, approximately six miles south of the 

 Florida Keys. Once on shore, we reported the incident and submit- 

 ted a copy of our videotape to the Coast Guard Marine Safety 

 Office in Miami for review. 



We followed the progress of our complaint through regular and 

 periodic calls to the Marine Safety Office. I must tell you that the 

 slow responsiveness and lack of progress that the Coast Guard 

 made in investigating this well-documented incident was irritating. 

 Equally troubling was the incomplete or lack of knowledge that 



