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Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee
The Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee (IMDCC) is an interagency body responsible for developing and recommending
comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approaches to reduce the sources and impacts of marine debris to the nation’s marine environment,
natural resources, public safety, and economy. The IMDCC, co-chaired by EPA and NOAA, promotes the coordination of Federal agency marine
debris activities both nationally and internationally, as well as recommends research priorities, monitoring techniques, educational programs,
and regulatory action.
In August 2008, the IMDCC submitted to Congress a report on marine debris (PDF) (52 pp, 498K, About PDF) . This report
contains recommendations to guide the federal government’s strategies to prevent and reduce marine debris. The report identifies the sources
of marine debris, the ecological and economic impacts of marine debris, and recommendations to reduce marine debris both domestically and
internationally.
The IMDCC consists of representatives from the following Federal agencies:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – co-chair
- Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – co-chair
- Department of Defense/ U.S. Navy (USN)
- Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- Department of Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS) Minerals Management Service (MMS)
- Department of State (DOS)
- Marine Mammal Commission (MMC)
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Other Federal agencies or organizations that have that have an interest in ocean issues and water pollution prevention and control
(e.g., Coastal America).
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