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Ballast Water Management
Review of ETV Ballast Water Protocol:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program announces the availability of the draft protocol for verification of ballast water treatment systems, developed under a collaboration between EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard. EPA's designated manager for the development of these protocols is NSF International.
The proposed NSF Draft - ETV Ballast Water Protocol can be viewed at:
http://standards.nsf.org/apps/group_public/document.php?document_id=7597
If you would like to submit public comments on the draft, please click on the tab labeled ‘add a comment’ in the gray box just above "Document Details." If you choose to make a comment, please identify the Section, Page and Line for each comment (even though it is indicated as optional).
The public comment period will close on April 22, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. All comments submitted on or before this date will be provided to the ETV Water Quality Protection Center, managed by NSF International, for review and disposition. Comments received after this date will not be considered during this public comment period.
Questions regarding the proposed draft Protocol should be sent to Tom Stevens stevenst@nsf.org. Questions on how to submit feedback should be sent to Andrea Burr, at 800-NSF-MARK, ext. 5794, 734-913-5794 or e-mail: aburr@nsf.org.
Ballast Water Discharge Standard:
The Ballast Water Discharge Standard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published in the Federal Register on August 28, 2009 for public review and comment.
Click here to access the docket to submit a comment on the proposed rule, and to review supporting materials as well as comments submitted by the public. The comment period for this proposed rule was extended from November 27 to December 4, 2009.
Webcasts of the public meetings are available at the following website: HTTP://BALLASTWATER.US/
The following documents are available for download as PDF files:
Ballast Water Management Equivalent Reporting Program:
The Coast Guard and the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse (NBIC) offer an Equivalent Reporting Program for vessels operating exclusively in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This program offers an alternative for an Owner, Operator, Master, Agent, Person-in-Charge or Charterer of a vessel to submit required Ballast Water Management (BWM) Reports in a single batch report on a monthly basis, instead of on a port-to-port, pre-arrival schedule as required under 33 CFR 151.204(b). To be accepted into this program, a BWM Equivalent Reporting Program Application must be filled out and emailed as an attachment to the Coast Guard’s Environmental Standards Division.
Each applicant vessel must operate exclusively within the EEZ or Canadian equivalent: must not have ever been listed on a Coast Guard Lookout List for failing to submit a BWM report or for submitting incomplete or inaccurate reports; have suitable capability for emailing the form as an attachment; and either make 10 or more BWM reports per calendar month or be part of a fleet of applicant vessels, owned by the same company, who make 50 or more BWM reports per calendar month. To learn more about this program and download a BWM Equivalent Program Application and submission information, visit: http://invasions.si.edu/nbic/equivalentprogram.html
Background:
Ballast
water discharged from ships is one of the pathways for the
introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS).
In response to national concerns, the National Invasive Species
Act of 1996 (NISA) was reauthorized and amended the
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA).
NISA required the Coast Guard to establish national voluntary ballast
water
management guidelines. If the guidelines were deemed inadequate, NISA
directed the Coast Guard to convert them into a mandatory national
program. To comply with NISA, the Coast Guard has established both
regulations and
guidelines to prevent the introduction of ANS.
Under the initial nationwide program which began in 1998, a self-policing program was established where ballast water management (BWM) was voluntary for 24-30 months. However, the rate of compliance was found to be inadequate, and vessel operators often failed to submit mandatory ballast water reports to the Coast Guard.
In 2004, the voluntary program became mandatory and current regulations are at 33 CFR 151 subparts C and D.
Penalties for Non-submittal of Ballast Water Reports:
On June 14, 2004, the Coast Guard published regulations establishing penalties for ships headed to the U.S. that fail to submit a ballast water management reporting form, as well as vessels bound for the Great Lakes or portions of the Hudson River that violate mandatory ballast water management requirements. These regulations also increase the number of vessels subject to these provisions by expanding the reporting and the recordkeeping requirements on ships, increasing the Coast Guard’s ability to determine the patterns of ballast water movement as required by NISA. The Coast Guard may now impose a civil penalty of up to $27,500 per day or Class C Felony charge for non-submittal. Vessels are strongly encouraged to electronically submit ballast water management reporting forms via email and/or web-based methods available at the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse web site: http://invasions.si.edu/nbic/submit.html
Mandatory Ballast Water Management Program for U.S. Waters:
On July 28, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard published regulations establishing a national mandatory ballast water management program for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks that enter or operate within U.S. waters. These regulations also require vessels to maintain a ballast water management plan that is specific for that vessel and assigns responsibility to the master or appropriate official to understand and execute the ballast water management strategy for that vessel.
Compliance Guidance:
On October 29, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued Change-1 to the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 07-04, titled “Ballast Water Management for the Control of Aquatic Nuisance Species in the Waters of the United States.” The NVIC provides guidance for USCG personnel, vessel owners and operators, masters, shipping agents, and persons-in-charge concerning compliance with and enforcement of the USCG’s Ballast Water Management (BWM) Program.
Contact the Environmental Standards Division:
Environmental Standards Division (CG-5224)
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2100 Second Street SW
Washington, DC 20593
Tel: 202-372-1402
E-mail: environmental_standards@uscg.mil
Listserv: http://cgls.uscg.mil/mailman/listinfo/environmentalstds
Web: www.uscg.mil/environmental_standards/