AMERICAN SAMOA AMERICAN SAMOA PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG

BAN (PSBB) LAWBAN (PSBB) LAWA.S.C.A 25.2034A.S.C.A 25.2034

AMERICAN SAMOA ENVIRONMENTAL AMERICAN SAMOA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYPROTECTION AGENCY

(AS-EPA)(AS-EPA)

PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS

LANDFILL OF AMERICAN LANDFILL OF AMERICAN SAMOASAMOA

AMERICAN SAMOA AMERICAN SAMOA PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG

BAN (PSBB) LAWBAN (PSBB) LAWA.S.C.A 25.2034A.S.C.A 25.2034

TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTSPSBB LEGISLATIONPSBB LEGISLATIONPSBB PUBLIC EDUCTATION & PSBB PUBLIC EDUCTATION &

OUTREACH OUTREACH PSBB ENFORCEMENT EFFORTSPSBB ENFORCEMENT EFFORTSPSBB BENEFITSPSBB BENEFITSPSBB CHALLENGESPSBB CHALLENGESCONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

PSBB LEGISLATIONPSBB LEGISLATIONA.S.C.A 25.2034A.S.C.A 25.2034

PSBB Law’s Effective Date February 23, PSBB Law’s Effective Date February 23, 20112011

Prohibits wholesalers or retail Prohibits wholesalers or retail establishments from directly or indirectly, establishments from directly or indirectly, give, provide, or make available plastic give, provide, or make available plastic shopping bags to customers or consumersshopping bags to customers or consumers

Department Department of Public of Public Safety Safety (DPS)(DPS)

American Samoa American Samoa Environmental Protection Environmental Protection

Agency (AS-EPA)Agency (AS-EPA)

Department Department of of

Commerce Commerce (DOC)(DOC)

Stop Stop OrdersOrders

CitationsCitations30 days

Seizures &

Forfeitures

Enforcement Enforcement Tools:Tools:

PSBB LEGISLATION A.S.C.A 25.2034PSBB LEGISLATION A.S.C.A 25.2034 EXEMPTIONS:EXEMPTIONS:

Shopping bags produced entirely from non-Shopping bags produced entirely from non-petroleum-based biodegradable plastic, as verified by petroleum-based biodegradable plastic, as verified by AS-EPA:AS-EPA: (Biodegradable Plastics made of cellulose (Biodegradable Plastics made of cellulose based or other substances that undergo significant based or other substances that undergo significant changes in their chemical structure as a result of the changes in their chemical structure as a result of the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae)bacteria, fungi, and algae) Compostable plastic bags, as verified by AS-EPA:Compostable plastic bags, as verified by AS-EPA: (Plastic bags that conforms to the American Society for (Plastic bags that conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standard Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standard D6400 for compostable plastic, as such standard may be D6400 for compostable plastic, as such standard may be amended and/or revised from time to time)amended and/or revised from time to time)

PSBB LEGISLATION A.S.C.A. 25.2034PSBB LEGISLATION A.S.C.A. 25.2034ADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONSADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS

AS-EPA may issue category variances for AS-EPA may issue category variances for the following products:the following products:

Raw meat, poultry, or fish:Raw meat, poultry, or fish:Frozen foods;Frozen foods;Fresh produce;Fresh produce;Prepare meals in take out containersPrepare meals in take out containers

KVZK TELEVISION 30 KVZK TELEVISION 30 MINUTES TALK MINUTES TALK

SHOWSSHOWS

KVZK-TVKVZK-TV3 MINUTES 3 MINUTES INTERVIEWINTERVIEWS FOR S FOR EVENING EVENING NEWSNEWS

RADIO RADIO INTERVIEWS & INTERVIEWS & TALK SHOWSTALK SHOWS

OUTREACHES TO BOTH PUBLIC & PRIVATE SCHOOLS

SCHOOL OUTREACHSCHOOL OUTREACH

SUMMER CAMPSSUMMER CAMPS

AS-EPA WEBSITE: www.asepa.govwww.asepa.gov

PSBB ENFORCEMENT EFFORTSPSBB ENFORCEMENT EFFORTSEstablished PSBB Task Force (DPS, DOC, AS-EPA)Established PSBB Task Force (DPS, DOC, AS-EPA)Develop Enforcement Tools (Stop Order Forms and Develop Enforcement Tools (Stop Order Forms and

Citation Booklets)Citation Booklets)Conducted Procedural Trainings for the Enforcement Conducted Procedural Trainings for the Enforcement

OfficersOfficersSecured List of Wholesalers & Retail Establishments Secured List of Wholesalers & Retail Establishments

in the Territoryin the TerritoryDesignated Enforcement Areas among Task Force Designated Enforcement Areas among Task Force

DepartmentsDepartments

APPROVED ALTERNATIVE BAGS: APPROVED ALTERNATIVE BAGS: Samoa Bio-Bags Serial Numbers:Samoa Bio-Bags Serial Numbers:CPMNREPTI/0808002 CPMNREPTI/0710001 CPMNREATC/0610001 CPMNREFEE/0211009CPMNREATC/0312014

PSBB ENFORCEMENT EFFORTSINITIAL SITE INITIAL SITE

VISITSVISITS 303000

COMPLIEDCOMPLIED

188188

STOP STOP ORDERS ORDERS ISSUEDISSUED112112

CITATIONSCITATIONSISSUEDISSUED33109109

COMPLIEDCOMPLIED

PSBB BENEFITSPSBB BENEFITSReduces Hazards for marine & wildlifeReduces Hazards for marine & wildlifeOne less item of an eyesoreOne less item of an eyesoreLandfill benefitsLandfill benefitsIntroduction of Biodegradable bagsIntroduction of Biodegradable bagsPromotes the reuse of non-petroleum base Promotes the reuse of non-petroleum base

shopping bags (cloth, paper bags, woven shopping bags (cloth, paper bags, woven baskets, etc…)baskets, etc…)

EconomyEconomy

PSBB CHALLENGESPSBB CHALLENGES

NO BAN on Plastic Bags’ NO BAN on Plastic Bags’ Importation.Importation.

Low Citation Fees Low Citation Fees Penalties starts from $50Penalties starts from $50

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION• Continue to enforce PSBB Continue to enforce PSBB • Continue educational outreach and Continue educational outreach and

advertisements advertisements • American Samoa is not only the first US American Samoa is not only the first US

Territory to ban Plastic Shopping Bags, but Territory to ban Plastic Shopping Bags, but one of the First States to enact State or one of the First States to enact State or Territory wide Legislation.Territory wide Legislation.

AS-EPA AWARDAS-EPA AWARD

POINT OF CONTACTSPOINT OF CONTACTS

Mr. William Sili, ManagerMr. William Sili, ManagerAir & Land DivisionAir & Land DivisionAmerican Samoa – EPA American Samoa – EPA Phone #: 684-633-2304Phone #: 684-633-2304Fax #: 684-633-5801Fax #: 684-633-5801Email Address: Email Address:

william.sili@epa.as.gov

Mr. Faamao AsaleleMr. Faamao AsaleleDeputy DirectorDeputy DirectorAmerican Samoa – EPAAmerican Samoa – EPAContact #: 684-633-2304Contact #: 684-633-2304Fax #: 684-633-5801Fax #: 684-633-5801Email Address:Email Address:faamao.asalele@epa.as.gov

PLASTIC FREE, THE WAY TO BE…PLASTIC FREE, THE WAY TO BE…

PLASTIC FREE, THE WAY TO BE…PLASTIC FREE, THE WAY TO BE…

FA’AFETAI TELE FA’AFETAI TELE LAVALAVA

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