Posted:
January 10, 2014
The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a joint letter dated Dec. 24, 2013 addressing the collaborative approach being employed by the agencies in implementing ballast water management discharge standards and acknowledging the preferred ballast water management systems are not yet available.
"We both strongly support the use of USCG type approved technology and are working together to ensure the availability of such systems for the earliest implementation of ballast water management system compliance dates," the agencies wrote.
A separate EPA enforcement response policy memorandum dated Dec. 27, 2013 also acknowledges "Coast Guard type ballast water management systems" are not yet available and explains the EPA enforcement policy for vessels that have received an extension from the U.S. Coast Guard.
As previously reported, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a policy letter dated Sept. 25, 2013 that explains how vessel owners and operators can apply for an extension to implement ballast water management discharge standards. The policy letter allows a ship owner/operator to provide documentation demonstrating that, despite making every effort, it is impossible to meet the new BWM discharge standards on the timetable established by the U.S. Coast Guard in June 2012. An extension of up to five years may be granted, if approved by the Coast Guard, according to the policy letter.
The policy letter remains available on the AMO Currents website. Also available on the AMO Currents website is the updated list of the ballast water treatment systems the U.S. Coast Guard has accepted as 'alternate management systems' for use in U.S. waters.
USCG, EPA issue letter addressing ballast water management system implementation
The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a joint letter dated Dec. 24, 2013 addressing the collaborative approach being employed by the agencies in implementing ballast water management discharge standards and acknowledging the preferred ballast water management systems are not yet available.
"We both strongly support the use of USCG type approved technology and are working together to ensure the availability of such systems for the earliest implementation of ballast water management system compliance dates," the agencies wrote.
A separate EPA enforcement response policy memorandum dated Dec. 27, 2013 also acknowledges "Coast Guard type ballast water management systems" are not yet available and explains the EPA enforcement policy for vessels that have received an extension from the U.S. Coast Guard.
As previously reported, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a policy letter dated Sept. 25, 2013 that explains how vessel owners and operators can apply for an extension to implement ballast water management discharge standards. The policy letter allows a ship owner/operator to provide documentation demonstrating that, despite making every effort, it is impossible to meet the new BWM discharge standards on the timetable established by the U.S. Coast Guard in June 2012. An extension of up to five years may be granted, if approved by the Coast Guard, according to the policy letter.
The policy letter remains available on the AMO Currents website. Also available on the AMO Currents website is the updated list of the ballast water treatment systems the U.S. Coast Guard has accepted as 'alternate management systems' for use in U.S. waters.