Coast Guard Enforcement Has Increased, but Problems Remain

The Coast Guard intensified its enforcement of MARPOL V following congressional criticism in 1990 and 1992 of the Coast Guard’s lack of progress in implementing MARPOL V. More aggressive enforcement, according to Coast Guard officials, has resulted in a steady increase in the number of MARPOL V violations found by enforcement personnel. Accordingly, the number of enforcement cases involving violations of MARPOL V has increased from 16 in 1989, the first year of implementation, to 311 during 1994 (see fig. However, whether the Coast Guard’s success in obtaining penalties is improving over time is not yet known because so many 1993 and 1994 cases are still being processed. Utilization of MARPOL Billets Is Uncertain

For fiscal year 1991, the Senate Committee on Appropriations provided for 100 positions for pollution prevention activities. Therefore, the Coast Guard has embarked on an education and outreach effort to improve compliance. Just how the program is contributing to MARPOL V enforcement is unknown, however, because no good measure of this has been developed. The Coast Guard agreed with the report’s recommendations and has revised its strategy for SeaPartners in fiscal year 1995. It is also important that the Coast Guard continue its efforts to improve its education and outreach program for MARPOL V and its management information system used to monitor the performance of field units in achieving MARPOL V enforcement. We will make copies available to others on request. The first are enforcement data from cases initiated by marine safety offices (MSO). I.1). I.2). I.3). I.7). To describe the Coast Guard’s educational and outreach efforts pertaining to MARPOL V, we met with Coast Guard officials in headquarters and in the field. Additional copies are $2 each.
Why GAO Did This Study

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.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) the Coast Guard stepped up its MARPOL V enforcement efforts after congressional criticism in 1990 and 1992; (2) the number of cases involving MARPOL V violations has steadily increased from 16 in 1989 to 311 in 1994; (3) fewer than 10 percent of all cases have resulted in any penalties assessed to the violator, although many cases are still being processed; (4) although there are no accurate means to determine whether the Coast Guard is fully utilizing the additional resources that Congress provided for enforcing MARPOL V, nearly all the designated enforcement positions are filled; (5) in 1994, the Coast Guard's education and outreach efforts for MARPOL V expanded from targeting commercial shippers to other groups, such as boaters and fishermen; (6) the Coast Guard initiated the SeaPartners program to provide marine education to various participants, but it is unknown how the program will contribute to MARPOL V; and (7) the Coast Guard has revised its strategy for SeaPartners in fiscal year 1995 to clarify its mission.