(ARLINGTON, Va.) — In response to the U.S. Coast Guard’s request for information on vessel discharge recordkeeping and reporting requirements, the American Waterways Operators (AWO) has urged the service to critically evaluate what information is necessary to evaluate and enforce environmental compliance; create a recordkeeping and reporting framework narrowly tailored to meet those needs; and reconsider regulations that impose costs and other burdens on towing vessel and barge operators with no environmental protection or compliance benefit.
Specifically, the AWO called on the Coast Guard to:
• Exempt from future reporting requirements vessels equipped with ballast tanks that do not take up or discharge ballast water; use water from a public water supply as ballast water; or discharge treated ballast water from a type-approved ballast water treatment system.
• Do away with the Vessel General Permit’s process for submitting electronic notices of intent and notices of termination, and the requirement to submit annual reports for vessels with no instances of noncompliance.
• Streamline compliance for unmanned, unpowered barges as a distinct and operationally unique vessel class.
• Create a more efficient reporting system.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on track to finalize its performance standards for vessel discharges by a court-mandated deadline of Sept. 23, and the Coast Guard is preparing to initiate its rulemaking to establish implementing regulations – including for inspections, recordkeeping and reporting – as required by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA).
– American Waterways Operators
