Posted:
October 13, 2011
As a reminder, operators of vessels covered under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) vessel general permit (VGP) must submit a one-time report between 30 and 36 months after obtaining permit coverage for each vessel.
More information about the one-time VGP report is available on the EPA's Web site.
The EPA is developing an electronic system for submitting VGP reports, but it is not yet available.
As previously reported in American Maritime Officer, the VGP applies to discharges incidental to the normal operation of all non-recreational, non-military vessels of 79 feet or greater in length that discharge in waters of the United States. In addition, the ballast water discharge provisions also apply to any non-recreational vessel of less than 79 feet or commercial fishing vessel of any size discharging ballast water. Failure to comply with permitting requirements may result in civil and criminal penalties.
Additionally, all instances of noncompliance with the VGP must be reported at least once per year to the EPA regional office corresponding to the waters in which the noncompliance occurred. The filing of a noncompliance report is unnecessary if there are no instances of noncompliance.
Reminder: operators must file one-time VGP report
As a reminder, operators of vessels covered under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) vessel general permit (VGP) must submit a one-time report between 30 and 36 months after obtaining permit coverage for each vessel.
More information about the one-time VGP report is available on the EPA's Web site.
The EPA is developing an electronic system for submitting VGP reports, but it is not yet available.
As previously reported in American Maritime Officer, the VGP applies to discharges incidental to the normal operation of all non-recreational, non-military vessels of 79 feet or greater in length that discharge in waters of the United States. In addition, the ballast water discharge provisions also apply to any non-recreational vessel of less than 79 feet or commercial fishing vessel of any size discharging ballast water. Failure to comply with permitting requirements may result in civil and criminal penalties.
Additionally, all instances of noncompliance with the VGP must be reported at least once per year to the EPA regional office corresponding to the waters in which the noncompliance occurred. The filing of a noncompliance report is unnecessary if there are no instances of noncompliance.