Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $2 Million for Portland State University to Curb Marine Microplastics in Coastal Tourism

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Portland State University (PSU) is receiving $1,976,806 from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Competition. The federal funding will support PSU's efforts to create solutions to address microplastics from coastal tourism, a critical industry in Oregon's coastal communities.

"For years, we were taught the three Rs-reduce, reuse, and recycle. The reality for plastics is really the three Bs-buried, burned, or borne out to sea-as dangerous chemicals are seeping into our soil, air, and water," Merkley said. "This funding for Portland State University's work to curb marine microplastics in coastal tourism will help the industry continue to thrive while ensuring stronger, healthier coastal communities."

"Protecting our world-renowned Oregon Coast from the threat of microplastics is a must," Wyden said. "I'm gratified that PSU has earned this federal investment to achieve that goal so coastal communities can keep generating jobs in tourism and preserving every part of Oregon's 360-plus miles along the Pacific."

Today's latest award for PSU is part of the NOAA Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Competition program, which is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Challenge Competition supports innovative, transformational research-to-application projects that will address the prevention and removal of marine debris.

"PSU is excited to do our part to reduce the flow of microplastics in our community, and we appreciate Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden's ongoing support for initiatives like this one. This project results from a strong collaboration among university and agency scientists, municipalities, Tribes, non-governmental organizations, and industry to address the increasing threat of microplastic pollution," said Elise Granek, PSU Professor, Environmental Sciences and Management

PSU's project, entitled "Beyond the drain: Tackling anthropogenic particle pollution sources to wastewater and biosolids across communities," is targeted to examine tourism-a significant and expanding factor in the economies of U.S. coastal areas-and work toward solutions to alleviate the pressure the industry places on municipal infrastructure, including water, wastewater and waste systems. More information about the award is as follows:

1. $1,976,806 for Portland State University's project to address the main sources of microplastics from coastal tourism. This includes developing washing machine, dishwasher and clothes dryer filters and creating cost-effective air filtration devices. Additionally, it seeks to measure the effectiveness of intervention strategies in addressing challenges faced by the hotel industry in removing microplastics. 

Merkley, in his role as the Chair of the Environment and Public Works subcommittee overseeing environmental justice and chemical safety, held a first-of-its-kind series of hearings investigating plastic production and pollution. He also leads theBreak Free from Plastic Pollution Act, which is cosponsored by Wyden. This legislation is the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the plastic pollution crisis that is poisoning our air, water, and land, and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income Americans. Merkley and Wyden also secured $785,000 in community-initiated project funding in fiscal year 2023 to help create PSU's Microplastics Research Center, which is the Pacific Northwest's first research and analytical center to quantify environmental plastics and microplastics to facilitate source identification and solution development. 

  For a full list of NOAA Sea Grant awards, please click HERE.

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