United States · Law · S
S. 1986 (100th)
Plastic Pollution Control Act of 1987
Introduced
21 December 1987
Last action
28 October 1988 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 100-556.
Sponsors
Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND]
Subjects
Environment
Source updated
28 August 2025
Summary
Plastic Pollution Control Act of 1987 - Title I: Amendments to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships - Amends the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships to implement Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (concerning the disposal of plastics and other garbage at sea). References the MARPOL Protocol of 1978 relating to the Convention. Applies such Act to all U.S. vessels, ships on U.S. waters, including its exclusive economic zone, and U.S. ports or terminals. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations for determining the adequacy of reception facilities for garbage at ports and terminals. Provides a certification procedure for complying facilities. Permits U.S. inspection of ships within its navigable waters, and also in the exclusive economic zone of the U.S. for Annex V enforcement purposes. Requires U.S. vessels to maintain logbooks, develop shipboard waste management plans, and display placards outlining Annex V requirements. Requires a report to the Congress within two years on the implementation of this requirement. Establishes civil penalties for violations of such Annex and violations under the Refuse Act. Title II: Studies and Report - Directs the Coast Guard to report to the Congress every two years on compliance with Annex V. Requires other Federal agencies operating or contracting for the operation of ships to also report to the Congress. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study and report to the Congress on how to mitigate the adverse effects on the environment, including fish and wildlife, of discarding and dumping plastics. Requires the study to include the impact of plastics in the solid waste stream, the availability of packaging alternatives, and the feasibility of recycling. Requires the Administrator, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretaries of Transportation and the Interior to educate the public about the environmental threat posed by the improper disposal of articles, including plastic, through public service announcements, citizen pollution patrols, and other means. Title III: Regulation of Plastic Ring Carriers - Directs the Administrator to require that plastic ring carriers (such as those on canned beverage six-packs) be made of naturally degradable material. Title IV: Bight Restoration Plan - Directs the Administrator to prepare and submit to the Congress a plan to control pollution in the New York bight (an area of ocean waters off the New York and New Jersey shores), including preliminary reports and schedules on pollutant inputs and dumping alternatives. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990. Title V: Relation to Other Law - States that this law does not preempt other Federal or State laws unless particularly specified.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
21 December 1987
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 513.
Source: Calendars
21 December 1987
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Burdick. With written report No. 100-270.
Source: Committee
21 December 1987
Reported
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Burdick. With written report No. 100-270.
Source: Committee
21 December 1987
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
13 May 1988
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
13 May 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
17 May 1988
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
17 May 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
24 May 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Hazardous Materials.
Source: Committee
26 May 1988
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment.
Source: Committee
26 May 1988
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce, Interior, EPA.
Source: Committee
26 July 1988
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
4 October 1988
Committee
House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
4 October 1988
Floor
House Incorporated H.R.5117 in This Measure as an Amendment.
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Passed
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Discharge
House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
5 October 1988
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
14 October 1988
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
14 October 1988
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
18 October 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
20 October 1988
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
20 October 1988
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
20 October 1988
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
28 October 1988
Became law
Became Public Law No: 100-556.
Source: President
28 October 1988
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
28 October 1988
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
4 official files
Public Law (PDF)
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Leesvertaling
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 29 October 1988
Passed House amended
summary · EN · 4 October 1988
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 13 May 1988
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 21 December 1987
Leesvertaling
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND] · D · Sponsor
- · hsif00 · Standing
- · hsmm00 · Standing
- · ssev00 · Standing
Related records
Related across the Repo ecosystem
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Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Plastic Pollution Control Act of 1987 · S. 1986 (100th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 100-s-1986 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/senate-bill/1986
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/s/1986
- us · 100-s-1986 · source updated 28 August 2025