(AGENPARL) – mar 17 ottobre 2023 Issued: Oct 17, 2023 (12:12pm EDT)
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EPA Seeks Additional Public Engagement on Proposal to Protect U.S. Waters from
Incidental Discharges from Vessels
WASHINGTON (October 17, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is issuing a supplemental proposed rule to reduce the spread of invasive
species that occurs with normal operation of large marine vessels. Following
public input on EPA’s 2020 proposed rule—including meetings with states,
Tribes, and other stakeholders—the agency is now issuing a Supplemental
Notice to share new data and control options raised by stakeholders. This
supplemental proposal will bolster the development of a final rule to stem the
spread of invasive species and better protect our nation’s aquatic
ecosystems.
“The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that healthy aquatic ecosystems
provide real benefits to communities—they help clean our waters, they
support commercial fishing, and they enhance recreation opportunities,” said
EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott.  “This
supplemental notice will help EPA develop a stronger final rule to protect our
nation’s aquatic resources as Congress intended when it passed the Vessel
Incidental Discharge Act.”
EPA’s proposed Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance
would reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water,
that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. The
proposed standards would apply discharges to waters of the United States
from:
• Commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length
• Other non-recreational, non-Armed Forces vessels, such as research and
emergency rescue vessels
• Ballast water only from small vessels (vessels less than 79 feet in
length) and fishing vessels of all sizes
This supplemental notice shares new ballast water information from the U.S.
Coast Guard and additional regulatory options EPA is considering for the final
rule for ballast tanks, hulls and associated niche areas, and graywater
systems. The agency is requesting comments on the issues identified in the
supplemental notice during a 60-day public comment period. The public does not
need to resubmit comments from the 2020 proposed rule, as the final rule will
address comments received on both the proposed rule and the supplemental
notice.
For more information on submitting comments on the proposal and upcoming
virtual public meetings, see EPA’s Commercial Vessel Discharge Standards.
Background
Congress passed the 2018 Vessel Incidental Discharge Act to harmonize the
patchwork of U.S. Coast Guard, EPA and state vessel incidental discharge
permits and regulations. The law requires EPA to develop national standards of
performance for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily
commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length and for ballast water
discharges only from small vessels less than 79 feet in length and fishing
vessels of any size. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act also requires the
U.S. Coast Guard to develop corresponding regulations to ensure, monitor, and
enforce compliance with EPA’s standards not later than two years after EPA
promulgates the national standards.
EPA’s October 2020 proposed rule includes general and specific discharge
standards of performance for 20 separate discharges from the equipment and
systems onboard vessels. These discharges may contain pollutants such as
aquatic nuisance species; bacteria and pathogens; oil and grease; metals; and
other toxic, nonconventional and conventional pollutants. EPA’s proposed
standards are intended to limit the potential adverse impacts of these
discharges on aquatic ecosystems and human health. One such discharge –
ballast water – is necessary to maintain the stability of vessels but can
contain aquatic nuisance species and facilitate their spread. The EPA and U.S.
Coast Guard rulemakings, once final, will improve environmental protection by
reducing the volume of pollutants entering the waters of the United States and
the contiguous zone.
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