ORDER NO. 3407: Subject: Department-Wide Approach To Reducing Plastic Pollution

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON
ORDER NO. 3407
Subject: Department-Wide Approach to Reducing Plastic Pollution
Sec. 1 Purpose. This Order prioritizes Departmental action to reduce the amount ofplastic waste
produced by the Department ofthe Interior (Department) in support ofthe goals ofExecutive
Order (EO)14057, entitled "Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal
Sustainability," and to further reestablish the Federal Government as a leader in sustainability.
Sec. 2 Authorities. This Order is issued under the authority ofsection 2 ofReorganization Plan
No. 3 of1950 (64 Stat. 1262), as amended. Other authorities for this Order include, but are not
limited to, EO 14057, (December 8, 2021).
Sec. 3 Definitions. Under this Order, the term "single-use plastic products" means plastic items
intended to be disposed ofimmediately after use, including plastic and polystyrene food and
beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery, and disposable plastic bags.
Sec. 4 Background. On December 8, 2021, President Biden issued, EO 14057, which includes a
focus on sustainable acquisition and procurement. Plastic waste is a priority environmental
problem. Less than 10 percent ofall the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and recycling
rates are not increasing. Plastics, including unnecessary and easily substituted single-use plastic
products, are devastating fish and wildlife around the world. Our oceans are downstream ofall
pollution sources, so they bear the brunt ofthe impacts: ofthe more than 300 million tons of
plastic produced every year for use in a wide variety ofapplications, at least 14 million tons of
plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80 percent ofall marine debris
found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Marine species ingest or are entangled by
plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death, and plastic pollution threatens food safety
and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.
The United States is one ofthe world's largest producers ofplastic waste and other types of
waste, and the U.S. Government is a large consumer with significant market power and the
ability to drive change through its waste reduction policies and procurement patterns. Section
208 ofEO 14057, entitled "Sustainable Acquisition and Procurement," creates an opportunity for
the Department to lead by example in aggressively reducing the amount ofsingle-use plastic
products it procures, sells, or distributes while prioritizing products that can be reused,
refurbished, or recycled.
Since 1849, the Department has been charged with numerous management and stewardship
responsibilities with respect to Government-managed lands, waters, resources, and ecosystems.
Today, the Department manages more than 480 million acres ofpublic lands, 2.5 billion acres of
the Outer Continental Shelf, and 750 million acres of marine national monuments across more
than 2,000 locations that host nearly 400 million visitors each year. As the steward of20 percent
of the Nation's lands, including national parks and national wildlife refuges; the Federal agency
responsible for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; and
a producer of nearly 80,000 tons of municipal solid waste in fiscal year 2020, the Department has
an obligation to play a leading role in reducing the impact of plastic waste on our ecosystems and
our climate.
As documented by the United Nations Environment Program, additional nonhazardous,

environmentally-preferable alternatives to single-use plastic products have been developed in
recent years and are readily available. Bags made of paper, bioplastics, and composite can
replace single use plastic bags, as can reusable cloth or thicker plastic alternatives. Bottles made
of bioplastics, glass, and aluminum, and laminated cartons can replace single-use plastic bottles,
as can reusable bottles made of glass, aluminum, or stainless steel. Similar materials can replace
single-use plastic in food packaging, beverage cups, tableware, and other products, giving the
Department a range of options to consider in this effort to account for the variety of geographic
locations and social contexts in which Departmental facilities operate.
Sec. 5 Reducing Single-Use Plastic Products. The Department's Chief Sustainability Officer
(CSO), working with the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance within the Office of
Policy, Management and Budget, is leading the Department's sustainability efforts and working
with Bureaus and Offices to further the goals of EO 14057. The following explicit directions and
timelines are necessary to ensure the Department's sustainability plans include bold action on
single-use plastic products:
a. Within 90 days of the issuance of this Order, the CSO shall issue guidance to Bureaus
and Offices on its implementation to include:
(1) Development of a process to account for single-use plastic products being procured,
sold, or otherwise distributed by Bureaus and Offices and concessionaires;
(2) A review of contracts, concessions, and procurement mechanisms to identify single
use plastic product reduction opportunities and challenges; and
(3) Development of sustainable procurement plans to support the goals of section 208 of
EO 14057 that include specific approaches to phasing out single-use plastic products
by the end of 2032.
b. Within 270 days of the issuance of this Order, Bureaus and Offices shall submit draft
sustainable procurement plans that:
(1) Include schedules and targets to make annual progress toward reducing the
procurement, sale, and distribution of single-use plastic products from current levels
with a goal of phasing out single-use plastic products by 2032;
(2) Include schedules for updates to their acquisition and procurement policies and
practices to reduce single-use plastic products;
(3) Include annual reporting on progress toward reducing procurement, sale, and
distribution of single-use plastic products;
(4) Include a schedule for reporting on how they will phase out single use plastic
products by 2032;
(5) Include an analysis of alternatives to single-use plastic products, such as compostable
or biodegradable materials, or 100 percent recyclable or 100 percent recycled
materials (with a circular economy plan) as defined in section 2 of the Save Our Seas
2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224);
(6) Identify opportunities to shift public behavior to reduce single-use plastic products,
such as installing additional water fountains and reusable water bottle filling stations;
(7) May include short-term exemptions if no alternatives currently exist, or for the term
of an existing concession or procurement contract, ifjustification is provided;
(8) May include exemptions for medical, public safety, public health, or scientific items,
or for items for which there is proof of a circular economy plan, ifjustification is
provided; and
(9) May include funding requests, ifjustified, for implementation costs.
c. Within 365 days of the issuance of this Order, the CSO shall review the draft plans and
provide Bureaus and Offices feedback, and Bureaus and Offices shall refine and submit
final sustainable procurement plans.
Sec. 6 Effect of the Order. This Order is intended to improve the internal management of the
Department. This Order and any resulting reports or recommendations are not intended to, and
do not create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers
or employees, or any other persons. To the extent there is any inconsistency between the
provisions of this Order and any Federal laws or regulations, the laws or regulations will control.
Sec. 7 Expiration Date. This Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it is
amended, superseded, or revoked, whichever occurs first.
Secretary of the Interior
Date: JUNE 8 2022

ORDER NO. 3407: Subject: Department-Wide Approach To Reducing Plastic Pollution

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

ORDER NO. 3407: Subject: Department-Wide Approach To Reducing Plastic Pollution

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

ORDER NO. 3407

Subject: Department-Wide Approach to Reducing Plastic Pollution

As documented by the United Nations Environment Program, additional nonhazardous,

Secretary of the Interior

Date: JUNE 8 2022

You might also like