Good news and some PITA news for boaters.........

The act permits and all but encourages states to establish "no
discharge zones." While untreated sewage, waste oil, etc should never
be discharged anyway- the concept of keeping grey water from showers,
dishwashing, etc in a separate holding tank will severely limit the
number of days most boaters can stay "on the hook". In some
ridiculously "green" states, we could indeed see regulations against
dumping cooling water etc into the waterways.



**************
Commerce Committee Approves Measure that Tempers Spread of Invasive
Species

For Immediate
Release






September 27, 2007






Contact: Jenilee Keefe (202) 224-7824












Commerce Committee Approves Measure that Tempers Spread of Invasive
Species












WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee today approved S. 1578, The Ballast Water Management Act of
2007, as amended, which strengthens the existing national ballast
water management program for aquatic nuisance species, including
uniform, mandatory national standards for ballast water treatment.












"This ballast water legislation strengthens existing federal
authorities and enhances important environmental protections aimed at
further stemming the tide of invasive species entering our waters from
ships," said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye. "The
Committee's approach is a pragmatic, bipartisan approach that offers
the opportunity for meaningful and effective environmental legislation
to move through the Senate and ultimately reach the President's
desk."












Ballast water is the water ships generally carry for stability that is
usually discharged as cargo is unloaded. It is a major source of
invasive species in U.S. waterways that can cause both environmental
and economic damage.












Specifically, the Ballast Water Management Act of 2007, introduced by
Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice
Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska):







Implements a recommendation by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to
adopt a national ballast water management program for aquatic nuisance
species, including uniform, mandatory national standards for ballast
water treatment. It also implements an international agreement,
negotiated in the International Maritime Organization.






Strengthens existing federal law by amending the Nonindigenous Aquatic
Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA) to require
mandatory ballast water treatment technology on all vessels that come
to a U.S. port. The bill sets performance standards 100 times stronger
than the minimum international standards and includes provisions for
strengthening these standards in the future, with a goal of zero
discharge.








Requires, until treatment is required, the exchange of ballast water
with water in mid-ocean to reduce the number of aquatic nuisance
species being transported.






Provides states with the authority to develop programs to regulate
invasive species from ships so long as the provisions do not conflict
with the federal program. Such programs could include all of the
provisions included in the federal program - treatment standards,
other management practices, research and technology development, as
well as other provisions such as the imposition of port fees.






Allows states to establish no discharge zones in sensitive state
waters, a mechanism for strengthening the performance standards in the
future, and a right of action for states against the Coast Guard and
EPA.






Authorizes $50 million for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for
the Coast Guard to implement the bill, of which up to a total of $10
million could be provided to states that enter cooperative agreements
with the Coast Guard.