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Action is designed to identify and facilitate practical steps to 

 implement the legal obligations of states set forth in the 

 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to prevent, 

 reduce and control impacts upon the marine environment from 

 land-based activities. 



Municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes and run-off 

 resulting from land-based activities contribute most of the 

 pollution load of the oceans. The impacts of these activities 

 encompass the effects of a broad range of pollutants and harmful 

 processes, including sewage (pathogens and microorganisms), 

 persistent organic pollutants, radioactive substances, heavy 

 metals, oils (hydrocarbons), nutrients, sediment mobilization, 

 litter, and physical alterations and destruction of habitat. 



The programme of action: 



a) incorporates practical guidance for national programs, 

 including a methodology for accurate identification and 

 assessment of the sources of land-based impacts; and for 

 establishing clear priorities for dealing with those sources; 



b) calls for cooperation at the regional level, through 

 legal instruments and action plans; and, 



c) cooperative steps at the global level to facilitate 

 effective action at the national and regional levels, 

 including building national capacity for effective action; 

 mobilization of financial resources in support of such 

 action; and involving the relevant United Nations and other 

 institutions in the implementation effort. 



The United States is pleased with the results of the 

 Washington conference. We consider effective steps to implement 

 The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine 

 Environment from Land-Based Activities as a major priority for 

 our oceans policy. The Programme stresses action at the 

 regional level and I believe offers an important platform upon 

 which to identify and apply "what works" in addressing problems 

 of Arctic contamination. 



