Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Ms. Kathy Metcalf

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the “Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable.” A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy’s policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual’s financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for the committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include among others: members who have practical knowledge of the implementation of marine debris prevention measures (including the implementation of MARPOL Annex V and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships) within the shipping industry.

To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Ms. Kathy Metcalf is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that she has a conflict of interest because of her employment as the Director of Maritime Affairs for the Chamber of Shipping of America, a maritime trade association which represents a significant number of U.S. based companies that own, operate, or charter oceangoing tankers, container ships, and other merchant vessels engaged in both the domestic and international trades.

As her biographical summary makes clear, Ms. Metcalf has extensive knowledge of the shipping industry and its practices. She has legal expertise in this area, particularly regarding domestic and international environmental regulations. She has also served on board large oceangoing vessels and is therefore familiar with shipboard operations. The experience and perspective of the shipping industry will be a crucial component in addressing the study tasks. We believe that Ms. Metcalf can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual who has the equivalent combination of professional experiences and scientific expertise and credentials as Ms. Metcalf who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this conflict is unavoidable.