Environmental Activities of the U.S. Coast Guard
Abstract
The U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG's) environmental activities focus on prevention programs, accompanied by enforcement and educational activities. An important component is maritime oil spill prevention, which includes inspection of U.S. and foreign-flagged ships to ensure compliance with U.S. laws and international agreements. As required by the Oil Pollution Act and the Superfund law, the USCG's pollution preparedness and response activities aim to reduce the impact of oil and hazardous substances spills. USCG's National Pollution Funds Center manages the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, paying certain spill-related costs and certifying that vessels show evidence of financial responsibility. Another prevention effort, minimizing marine debris, addresses commercial items (e.g., lost nets and fishing lines), as well as trash from recreational fishing and boating (e.g., beverage cans, bottles, and pieces of foam plastic). The Administration estimates that the marine environmental protection mission will receive $339 million in FY2009, a decrease of approximately $12 million from the enacted amount estimated for FY2008.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501534
Entities
People
- Jonathan L. Ramseur
Organizations
- Library of Congress