Ocean Protection and DDT Reduction Act
Directs NOAA to study waste dumped in the San Pedro Basin and assess research and possible bioremediation.
In two House committees since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Offshore waste dumping can raise questions about what is on the seafloor and how contaminants move through marine ecosystems. The bill would direct NOAA to study waste dumped in the San Pedro Basin, explore bioremediation, and support research that could inform work at other ocean dump sites. It would also authorize funding for the effort.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Study waste in the San Pedro Basin
The NOAA Administrator would monitor dumping and research the scope and effects of covered waste, including whether it could move into the marine food web. Covered waste includes DDT and related products, as well as other industrial wastes such as military explosives, radioactive waste and refinery byproducts.
- Assess remediation and research tools
NOAA would assess the potential for bioremediation at San Pedro offshore dump sites and develop tools and scientific approaches that could help study waste disposal at other ocean locations.
- Allow grants for contamination studies
The NOAA Administrator could provide grants for research on deep-seafloor contamination off California, including studies of contaminant inventories, how waste moves, and how it may build up in ecosystems.
- Report on future research and dump sites
Within three years after enactment, the NOAA Administrator would report on a strategy for further San Pedro Basin research and bioremediation, and identify other offshore dump sites used for covered waste.
- Authorize annual research funding
The bill would authorize $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2034 to carry out its work.
The bill focuses on what was dumped in the San Pedro Basin, how it is distributed and whether it could move through the marine food web. It also aims to develop scientific approaches that could help characterize waste disposal at other ocean locations.
The research could inform decisions about further study and possible bioremediation. The bill also authorizes federal funding for this work over fiscal years 2028 through 2034.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. CarbajalReferred to Natural Resources and Science, Space, and Technology
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 24, 2026NATURAL RESOURCES · SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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