Bill title: Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011

Bill number: H.R. 1171

Date introduced: March 17, 2011

Status: Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Summary:  This bill establishes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, and includes provisions requiring NOAA to address the adverse impacts of marine debris to the marine environment, navigation safety, and the economy through investigation and source identification, assessment, reduction, removal, and prevention activities. It establishes a legal definition of marine debris, which includes derelict fishing gear, and calls for the development of a Federal marine debris information clearinghouse. It also encourages collaboration between federal and local, state, regional, and tribal entities, as well as the international community, to implement best practices and to establish public private partnerships to address marine debris.