Coast Guard: Enforcement Under MARPOL V Convention on Pollution Expanded, Although Problems Remain
RCED-95-143
Published: May 30, 1995. Publicly Released: Jun 06, 1995.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on U.S. participation in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL V), which provides for the mitigation of uncontrolled ocean dumping of garbage and plastics, focusing on: (1) the Coast Guard's progress in implementing MARPOL V; (2) whether enforcement personnel are being utilized for MARPOL-related purposes; and (3) the Coast Guard's educational and outreach efforts to improve compliance with MARPOL V.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant, Coast Guard, to develop and put into force a standardized MARPOL V inspection checklist for use by its enforcement personnel. Doing so will improve the Coast Guard's ability to identify and properly document violations. |
Closed – Implemented
The Coast Guard concurred with the recommendation and produced a standardized MARPOL V inspection checklist in July 1996.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant, Coast Guard, to develop procedures to ensure that case feedback from hearing officers, including the rationale for decisions made, is provided to districts and forwarded to local units in a timely manner. |
Closed – Implemented
According to Coast Guard, it has initiated the formation of the Civil Penalty Coordination Committee to serve as a cross-program coordination effort between the Marine Safety and Operations offices to provide guidance and oversight for civil penalty activities. The Committee has already identified some existing policies, procedures, and regulations that it will revise and update.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant, Coast Guard, to explore with the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) areas of mutual interest and ways to improve cooperation between the Coast Guard and APHIS on enforcing MARPOL V. |
Closed – Implemented
The Coast Guard and APHIS met in October 1995. They reviewed each others' inspection procedures and discussed information needed on APHIS' boarding form to help the Coast Guard process violations. They plan to continue to coordinate periodically.
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Topics
Fines (penalties)Information systemsInspectionLaw enforcement personnelMarine safetyMarine transportationPollution preventionWater pollutionWater pollution controlWatercraft