Today, N.O.A.A. announced that $250,000 in grants has been made accessible through its marine debris plan to 5 states impacted by debris from the March 2011 Japanese tsunami. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii will gain up to $50,000 each to use toward marine debris removal efforts. The funds could be released as soon as the end of July.
"We continue to actively work with the states and other Federal agencies to address the challenges associated with tsunami debris," notes Nancy Wallace, director of NOAA's marine debris program. "We are pleased to be able to contribute funds to support states' efforts to respond to and remove marine debris, including disposal fees, cleanup supplies, and dumpster rentals. We remain dedicated to continuing our work with the states and others to address contingency planning, monitoring and research."
N.O.A.A. and its Federal agency partners have been actively assisting the West Coast states in planning how to handle above normal amounts of marine debris. Federal partnership efforts also include collecting and sharing data, assessing the debris, and mitigating risk to navigational safety.
The Government of Japan estimated that the tsunami swept about five million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean and that about 70 percent sank shortly after. The remaining 1.5 million tons dispersed far across the North Pacific Ocean in an area of the North Pacific Ocean roughly 3 times the size of the lower 48 states. Modeling indicates that the bulk of the debris is scattered and may continue to disperse north of the Main Hawaiian Islands and east of Midway Atoll. A portion of the debris has already begun to reach U.S. and Canadian shores, and more is expected to continue over the next several years.
In addition to supporting state planning, N.O.A.A. has established a public email reporting system for suspected pieces of tsunami debris. As marine debris is an on-going problem, it can be difficult to determine the source of debris without unique identifying information, and N.O.A.A. is working with the Japanese government to identify such items when possible. As of July 12, N.O.A.A. has received 529 reports, of which ten have been confirmed as originating from the tsunami event.
N.O.A.A. has also held series of public briefings throughout the Pacific West Coast and in Hawaii for local officials, non-governmental organizations, and the general public; established monitoring sites along the coast; and partnered with commercial and recreational shippers and fishers to report any debris at sea. The Administration continues to work with Federal, state and Japanese officials on an on-going basis to coordinate activities.
The public should notify local authorities of any significant sightings of marine debris at sea or on shore, and also may report such information to [email protected]. The public also should report to local authorities any piece of debris containing or covered with marine life or growth so that authorities can determine if they are native or invasive species.
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