Notice2022-19939
Request for Public Comment on Report on Microfiber Pollution
Primary source
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Published
September 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NOAA's Marine Debris Program and Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Trash Free Waters Program, on behalf of the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee (IMDCC), is soliciting public comments regarding the draft Report on Microfiber Pollution. The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020 requires the IMDCC to complete a report on microfiber pollution. This Report will provide Congress with an overview of the microfiber pollution issue, while also outlining a path forward for Federal agencies, in partnership with other stakeholders, to address this problem.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 178 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56633-56634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19939]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Request for Public Comment on Report on Microfiber Pollution
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NOAA's Marine Debris Program and Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Trash Free Waters Program, on behalf of the Interagency
Marine Debris Coordinating Committee (IMDCC), is soliciting public
comments regarding the draft Report on Microfiber Pollution. The Save
Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020 requires the IMDCC to complete a report on
microfiber pollution. This Report will provide Congress with an
overview of the microfiber pollution issue, while also outlining a path
forward for Federal agencies, in partnership with other stakeholders,
to address this problem.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 17, 2022, 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the following method: Federal
eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Submit electronic
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal and search for Docket
Number NOAA-NOS-2022-0061.
Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public
record. All personal identifying information (for example, name and
address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA will accept
anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ya'el Seid-Green, Executive
Secretariat, IMDCC, Marine Debris Program; Phone 240-533-0399; Email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0970686c65277a6c606d246e7b6c6c674967666868276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="334a52565f1d40565a571e544156565d735d5c52521d545c45">[email protected]</span></a> or visit the IMDCC website at <a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/IMDCC">https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/IMDCC</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The IMDCC is a multi-agency body responsible for coordinating a
comprehensive program of marine debris research and activities among
Federal agencies, in cooperation and coordination with non-governmental
organizations, industry, academia, States, Tribes, and other nations,
as appropriate. Representatives meet to share information, assess and
promote best management practices, and coordinate the Federal
Government's efforts to address marine debris. The IMDCC was
established in 2006 by the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1954). The NOAA
representative serves as the Chairperson of the Committee.
Why develop the report on microfiber pollution?
Section 132 of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-224)
requires the IMDCC to complete a report on microfiber pollution that
includes: (1) a definition of microfiber; (2) an assessment of the
sources, prevalence, and causes of microfiber pollution; (3) a
recommendation for a standardized methodology to measure and estimate
the prevalence of microfiber pollution; (4) recommendations for
reducing microfiber pollution; and (5) a plan for how Federal agencies,
in partnership with other stakeholders, can lead on opportunities to
reduce microfiber pollution during the 5-year period beginning on the
date of the Act's enactment. This Report will provide Congress with an
overview of the microfiber pollution issue, while also outlining a path
forward for Federal agencies, in partnership with other stakeholders,
to address this problem.
Microfibers have been found almost everywhere that scientists look,
including in surface waters and throughout the water column, sea ice,
deep-sea and coastal sediments, terrestrial soils, and indoor and
outdoor air and dust. These fibers are released from clothing, carpets,
cigarette butts, and other fiber-based products and are one of the most
pervasive types of microplastics found in many environmental
compartments. However, additional research is needed to improve our
understanding of microfiber sources, pathways, fates, and impacts so
that effective mitigation strategies and prevention measures can be
developed. Microfibers are a highly complex and diverse type of
contaminant and research on the subject is particularly challenging due
to a lack of standard definitions and research methods, which make
comparisons across studies difficult. In the course of addressing the
five requirements specified in Section 132 of the Save Our Seas 2.0
Act, this report also provides an in-depth review of these topics,
recommendations for addressing research data gaps, and solutions to
mitigate this source of pollution.
Summary of the Report on Microfiber Pollution
NOAA's Marine Debris Program and the EPA's Trash Free Waters
Program co-led the development of this report on behalf of the IMDCC,
with support from the consulting firm, Materevolve. The draft report is
approximately 90 pages in length. Section 1 of the report provides an
introduction to the report and microfiber pollution issue. Section 2
focuses on establishing a proposed definition of `microfiber'. This
section summarizes existing definitions from the environmental science,
textile industry, and government sectors, and explains the issues that
complicate efforts to define the term `microfiber'. It proposes an
initial definition of microfiber that can serve as a starting point for
building consensus around a standard definition that could be adopted
by the United States Government. Section 3 of the report
[[Page 56634]]
covers an assessment of the sources, pathways, and prevalence of
microfiber pollution in the environment. Environmental and human health
impacts from microfiber pollution are also discussed. Section 4 covers
the challenges and data gaps associated with creating standardized
methodologies to measure and estimate the prevalence of microfiber
pollution and recommendations for overcoming these challenges and data
gaps. Section 5 provides an overview of current solutions for
addressing the issue of microfiber pollution. Section 6 covers key
research needs and recommendations. Section 7 contains a plan for how
Federal agencies, in partnership with other stakeholders, can lead on
opportunities to reduce microfiber pollution over a 5-year period. This
plan was developed in collaboration with representatives from twelve
Federal agencies.
How Comments Will Be Addressed
NOAA's Marine Debris Program and EPA's Trash Free Waters Program,
on behalf of the IMDCC, invite comments, feedback, and recommendations
on the Report on Microfiber Pollution, including Section 7, which
contains a plan that outlines opportunities to reduce microfiber
pollution. Following the comment period, the feedback provided will be
reviewed and the report will be updated as necessary. An appendix will
be added to the report describing how comments from the public comment
period were incorporated into the report. The final report will be
posted to <a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/our-work/IMDCC">https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/our-work/IMDCC</a>.
Scott Lundgren,
Director, Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-19939 Filed 9-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
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