EPA seeks project proposals to reduce marine debris

For Immediate Release:  May 9, 2012
Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov   

MEDIA ADVISORY

EPA seeks project proposals to reduce marine debris
$280,000 available to reduce the source of land-based marine debris

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking project proposals to reduce land-based trash at the source, thus preventing trash from entering coastal runoff and becoming marine debris.

The amount of funding available is approximately $280,000 and projects must occur in a coastal or estuarine watershed in U.S. EPA Region 9, which includes coastal areas of California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories of Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  States, local governments, public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, and interstate agencies are eligible and encouraged to apply.

The aim of the grant is to reduce marine debris from coastal watersheds with true source reduction practices, not with the more commonly used capture and removal practices such as inserting catch basin screens and enhancing street sweeping. Methods that businesses can use to facilitate true source reduction include creating mechanisms for product/packaging take-back, minimizing procurement of difficult-to-recycle goods, and ‘incentivizing’ reuse.

Proposals should demonstrate and promote the economic benefits of source reduction to business and government, inspire innovative local policies promoting litter prevention, and foster creative collaborative partnerships between local government, non-profits, and business.  Proposals that principally support recycling, clean-up, treatment, trash capture/removal, plastic bag and/or polystyrene bans, or disposal activities will not be considered for funding.

Marine debris degrades estuarine, near shore, and open ocean habitats. It endangers marine and coastal wildlife, causes navigation hazards, results in economic losses to industry and governments, and threatens human health and safety. With up to 80 percent of marine debris coming from land-based sources, reducing what is generated upstream will result in less trash having to be captured and removed downstream.

Submission Date:  Proposals are due on Friday, June 8, 2012, 5 pm (PDT). EPA anticipates awarding one to three grants under this solicitation with project periods of up to three years. Applicants must demonstrate how they will provide the minimum non-federal match of 25 percent of the total cost of the proposal.

For more information and the full request for proposals, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/

This grant will support the Region 9 Strategic Plan goal of reducing the accumulation of trash that contributes to marine debris, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/strategicplan/islands.html and http://www.epa.gov/region9/strategicplan/comm.html

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EPA Awards Over $40,000 to Help Students Understand Marine Mammal Rehabilitation

EPA Awards Over $40,000

to Help Students Understand Marine Mammal Rehabilitation

(DALLAS – May 9, 2012) Promoting environmental education through interactive marine mammal experiences is the goal of the “Dolphin Exploration and Vessel Adventure Program” by the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This initiative will receive $43,407 to enhance the educational experience for 1,000 students and science teachers in the Greater Houston area.

The goals of this project are to increase awareness of marine mammals and issues with the local marine environment. This will include education about current marine mammal protection initiatives while encouraging interest in an environmental career. Partners include Baywatch Dolphin Tours and Texas A&M, Galveston.

More information on the EPA’s environmental education grant program is available at http://www.epa.gov/education/grants.html

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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News Release from EPA

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012
Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov 

EPA funds University of Hawaii marine debris research project

Agency providing $15,000 to further the university’s efforts

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently provided $15,000 in funding to the University of Hawaii to further research efforts on marine debris.

The funding will be used to begin studying plastic debris caught in the filters of ship-board cooling systems – this project will develop methods and protocols to better monitor debris as the ships cross the Pacific. Investigation and study of plastic debris in filters of cargo ships will further the understanding of the nature and distribution of plastic debris pollution throughout the North Pacific Ocean.

“Plastic marine debris can have a large impact on the marine environment as it never really ‘goes away’ -- it eventually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, and can be eaten by wildlife such as seabirds and fish,” said Dean Higuchi, EPA’s Press Officer for Hawaii and the Pacific islands. “Our funding will support the efforts of the university, which is a strong partner in marine debris research and a leader in creating forecasting tools for marine debris movements.”

Marine debris can damage wildlife habitats, transport chemical pollutants, threaten marine life, and interfere with human uses of marine and coastal environments. Plastic marine debris has great potential to alter the environment and impact humans and wildlife. Approximately half of all plastics are buoyant and float close to the ocean surface, are widely transported by ocean currents, and persist in the environment for years.

Some studies have concluded that much of the plastic debris found in the North Pacific consists of small pieces of plastic less than the size of a dime. These small pieces of plastic can be eaten by fish, birds and other marine life. Since plastic does not break down quickly, it displaces food in an animal’s stomach, and can lead to starvation.

Research has shown that persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) adsorb to and concentrate on plastic debris in the marine environment. Few studies, however, have examined the effects of ingestion of marine debris-borne contaminants on wildlife. Plastic debris in the marine environment poses the possibility of these types of pollutants associated with marine debris being transferred into the food chain.

For more information on the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s marine debris efforts visit:

http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/
For more information on the NOAA Marine Debris Program visit:

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/welcome.html

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California Sewage Ban

News release from EPA Region 9:


For Release: Feb. 9th, 2012
U.S. EPA Media Contact: Mary Simms, simms.mary@epa.gov, additional media contacts below

TODAY: Feds Approve California Sewage Ban and Create Largest
Coastal No-Discharge Zone in the Nation

Federal action is unprecedented in geographical scope, will prohibit the discharge of more than 22 million gallons of treated vessel sewage to shorelines and shallow waters in Calif. each year

SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld will today sign a rule that will finalize EPA’s decision and approve a state proposal to ban all sewage discharges from large cruise ships and most other large ocean-going ships to state marine waters along California’s 1,624 mile coast from Mexico to Oregon and surrounding major islands. Today’s action establishes a new federal regulation banning even treated sewage from being discharged in California’s marine waters.

"This is an important step to protect California's coastline. I want to commend the shipping industry, environmental groups and U.S. EPA for working with California to craft a common sense approach to keeping our coastal waters clean." said Gov. Jerry Brown.

"By approving California's 'No Discharge Zone,' EPA will prohibit more than 20 million gallons of vessel sewage from entering the state's coastal waters," said Jared Blumenfeld. "Not only will this rule help protect important marine species, it also benefits the fishing industry, marine habitats and the millions of residents and tourists who visit California beaches each year."

This action strengthens protection of California’s coastal waters from the adverse effects of sewage discharges from a growing number of large vessels. Several dozen cruise ships make multiple California port calls each year while nearly 2,000 cargo ships made over 9,000 California port calls in 2010 alone. EPA estimates that the rule will prohibit the discharge of over 22 million of the 25 million gallons of treated vessel sewage generated by large vessels in California marine waters each year, which could greatly reduce the contribution of pollutants still found in treated vessel sewage.

State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) authored Senate Bill 771, the Clean Coast Act which prohibits all commercial ships from dumping hazardous waste, sewage sludge, oily bilge water, “gray water” from sinks and showers, and sewage in state waters. Simitian’s SB 771 also required California to petition the federal government for a ‘No Discharge Zone’ to enforce the bill’s anti-dumping provisions.

“This is a great day for the California coast, which is far too precious a resource to be used as a dumping ground,” said Simitian. “This ‘No Discharge Zone’ – the largest in the nation – protects our coastal economy, our environment and our public health.”

"California's coastal waters will no longer serve as a sewage pond for big ships," said Cal/EPA Secretary Matthew Rodriquez. "For too long, pollution from these vessels has endangered our marine environment, jeopardized public health and threatened the coastal communities that rely on recreation and tourism dollars. I commend U.S. EPA for helping us ensure that our coastline remains pristine."

California’s coastal waters are home to a wide variety of unique, nationally important marine environments that support rich biological communities and a wide range of recreational and commercial activities. Four national marine sanctuaries, a national monument, portions of six national parks and recreation areas, and more than 200 other marine reserves and protected areas have been established to protect California’s unique marine resources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already implemented similar vessel sewage discharge bans in the four California marine sanctuaries that it oversees. Recreational and commercial uses of California’s coastal waters are equally important. Seventy-seven percent of the State’s population lives on or near the coast and annually, over 150 million visitor-days are spent at California beaches. California ranks first in the nation as a travel destination and its beaches are the leading destination for tourists. California’s commercial fishing industry also relies upon clean water to help preserve and restore coastal fisheries.

Under the Clean Water Act, states may request EPA to establish vessel sewage no-discharge zones if necessary to protect and restore water quality. In 2006, following passage of three state statutes designed to reduce the effects of vessel discharges to its waters, the State of California asked EPA to establish the sewage discharge ban. After releasing the proposed rule in 2010, EPA considered some 2,000 comment letters from members of the public, environmental groups, and the shipping industry before finalizing the regulation.

"California's economic health is tied to the health of our oceans and beaches," said Charles Hoppin, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. "Pollution from cargo and cruise ships directly threatens public health, marine life and our economy. This led to our request to declare the whole coastline a no discharge zone so that we could provide equal water pollution protection along our precious coastline."

Today’s prohibition is unprecedented in geographical scope. In contrast to prior no-discharge zones under the Clean Water Act, which apply in very small areas, the new ban applies to all coastal waters out to 3 miles from the coastline and all bays and estuaries subject to tidal influence. Other California no discharge zones for ten bays and marinas remain in effect for all vessels.

“Big ships make for big pollution but unfortunately, responsible disposal of sewage from ships hasn’t always been a given in California,” said Marcie Keever, oceans and vessels project director at Friends of the Earth. “The actions taken today by the U.S. EPA, the State of California, and the thousands of Californians who supported the Clean Coast Act mean that cruise lines and the shipping industry can no longer use California’s valuable coastal and bay waters as their toilet.”

Consistent with the State’s request, today’s prohibition applies to all passenger ships larger than 300 tons and to all other oceangoing vessels larger than 300 tons with sewage holding tank capacity.

“The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association shares the concern for protection of California’s marine environment. Our member companies are dedicated to the facilitation of trade while also minimizing any associated environmental impacts,” said John Berge, Vice President of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

In addition to today’s discharge prohibition, other vessel sewage discharges will continue to be regulated under existing Clean Water Act requirements, which generally require sewage to be treated by approved marine sanitation devices prior to discharge. The State is also continuing to implement and strengthen other efforts to address sewage discharges from smaller vessels, including recreational boats, to state waters.

EPA’s action complements our ongoing ocean protection efforts including strengthening the existing Vessel General Permit, development of a Vessel General Permit for smaller vessels, and our efforts to reduce marine debris such as plastics and other human-generated debris. The California No Discharge Zone final rule will be submitted today to the Federal Register and be published within 3-5 business days.

To view the electronic media kit for this announcement including photos and a copy of the final rule please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/mediacenter/nodischarge

For more information on this and other no-discharge zones in California, and Clean Water Act programs to address vessel discharges and marine debris, please visit EPA’s website at:

http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/no-discharge
http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vesseldisch.html
http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris

Additional media contacts:

Cal/EPA Deborah Hoffman, Director of Communications 916-324-9670 dhoffman@calepa.ca.gov

Cal/EPA Lindsay VanLaningham, Deputy Director of Communications, 916- 324-9670, LindsayV@calepa.ca.gov

State Water Resources Control Board - George Kostyrko, Director of Public Affairs 916- 341-7365 gkostyrko@waterboards.ca.gov

Sen. Simitian’s office, Lisa Gardiner, lisa.gardiner@sen.ca.gov, 916-651-4011

Marcie Keever, Friends of the Earth, Oceans & Vessels Project Director, 415.544.0790 x223, mkeever@foe.org

  

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