The issue of ballast water management and exchange standards is relevant to shellfish sanitation because pathogenic microorganisms and harmful algae can be transported through ballast water.
see: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=350 and Federal Register Notice of June 17 : http://www.epa.gov/npdes/regulations/vessel_frnotice.pdf comments due ~August 1Proposed Permits
EPA is soliciting public comment on two proposed NPDES vessel permits. The public comment period is open for 45 days. The Federal Register notice includes instructions for submitting comments. EPA will hold a series of public meetings and a webcast to explain the contents of the proposed permits during the public comment period.
- Overview of Litigation and the Proposed Permitting Scheme (PDF) (3 pp, 145K)
- Federal Register Notice (PDF) (9 pp, 135K)
Proposed Vessel General Permit (VGP) for All Commercial Vessels and Large Recreational Vessels (79 feet or longer)
This proposed permit incorporates the Coast Guard's mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards and supplemental ballast water requirements for vessels that carry ballast water. Furthermore, for all covered vessels, this permit also would establish requirements for twenty-seven other discharge types including deck runoff, bilgewater discharge, and graywater discharge In addition to these standard or common requirements, the permit outlines further requirements for eight specific classes of vessels, such as cruise ships, research vessels, and large ferries. The proposed VGP also includes requirements for corrective actions, inspections, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
The proposed VGP would require submission of a Notice of Intent (NOI) form to be covered under a general permit for a subset of covered vessels. EPA estimates that 44,363 domestic and 7,834 foreign flagged ships and commercial vessels would need to submit NOIs.