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* Participated in a series of ongoing "roundtable" 

 discussions with the federal government, private 

 industry, environmental groups and the plastics trade 

 press on how to solve the marine debris problem; and, 



* Developed an ongoing public information campaign to 

 inform targeted audiences about the consequences of 

 improper disposal of plastics in the marine 

 environment. 



Undertaken in cooperation with the Center for Marine Conservation 

 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 

 information campaign's initial effort consisted of two phases. Phase I 

 was aimed at the commercial fishing, maritime shipping and plastics 

 industries. Phase II was targeted at recreational boaters and sport 

 fishermen. 



The centerpiece of this campaign was a series of advertisements and 

 brochures. In addition, Phase II included the creation of a "Citizen's 

 Guide to Plastics in the Ocean." Personal visits with editors and 

 publishers of the major publications for each audience were also 

 incorporated into this educational effort. (Attached is a publication— 

 "Plastics and Marine Debris" which chronicles the results of this 

 public education and service campaign.) 



The level of concern within the plastics industry is embodied in a 

 policy statement approved by the Board of Directors of SPI. This 

 policy directive states, in part: 



"The SPI supports the responsible use of its industry's 

 materials and proper disposal of those products when they become 

 waste. Plastics should not be discarded into the ocean or any other 

 body of water." 



Also attached is the latest full page ad to discourage ocean dumping 

 from ships. SPI continues to have these ads placed in the various 

 publications which target the affected audiences. 



In addition to this vigorous effort to abate ocean dumping, SPI has 

 shown its concern for the environment in another fashion. For the 

 last three years this trade association has been involved with the 

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an educational and 



