Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Flashcards

MARPOL is an international convention primarily aimed at preventing:

Answer: Pollution from ships

MARPOL is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

In a Special Area under MARPOL, discharge restrictions are:

Answer: Stricter than in ordinary sea areas

Special Areas have stricter discharge standards because of their vulnerable ecological conditions.

What should a mariner do if they observe another vessel illegally discharging oil?

Answer: Report it to the National Response Center or Coast Guard

Witnessed pollution incidents should be reported promptly to the National Response Center or Coast Guard.

Which of these is a long-term environmental effect of a major oil spill on coastal habitats?

Answer: Damage to wetlands, marshes, and wildlife

Oil spills cause lasting damage to wetlands, marshes, and wildlife by smothering and poisoning habitats.

The 'polluter pays' principle in marine environmental law means that:

Answer: The party responsible for pollution bears the cost of cleanup

The polluter-pays principle assigns responsibility and cost for cleanup to the party that caused the pollution.

What is the purpose of a National Contingency Plan?

Answer: To provide the framework for responding to oil and hazardous substance releases

The National Contingency Plan establishes the framework and responsibilities for responding to pollution incidents.

Which practice best helps prevent marine debris pollution from a vessel?

Answer: Segregating, storing, and offloading garbage at port reception facilities

Proper segregation, storage, and shoreside disposal of garbage prevents marine debris pollution.