Great Lakes United Ballast Water Petition

Topics concerning muskellunge and fisheries research, diseases, stocking and management.
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Will Schultz
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Location: GR, MI

Great Lakes United Ballast Water Petition

Post by Will Schultz » Tue May 22, 2007 3:06 pm

Self interest is for the past, common interest is for the future.

Hamilton Reef
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Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:32 pm

EPA Proposes Vessel Discharge Permits

Hosting Clean Water Act meetings, posts notice in Federal Register

Washington, DC ---The U.S. EPA is proposing two general permits under the Clean Water Act that will cover discharges incidental to normal operation of commercial and recreational vessels. Based on agency estimates, as many as 91,000 commercial vessels and about 13 million recreational boats could be affected.

“EPA is proposing a practical approach as we work with Congress on a longer-term, comprehensive solution,” said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “We believe it is good environmental policy and common sense to promote clean boating without imposing new permits on millions of boaters.”

As a result of a court ruling currently under appeal, vessel owners or operators whose discharges have previously been exempt from Clean Water Act requirements for the last 35 years will require a permit as of September 30, 2008. EPA is proposing control technologies and management practices that enhance environmental protection and are practical to implement.

The commercial and large recreational vessel general permit (VGP) would cover all commercial vessels and recreational vessels 79 ft or longer. For vessels that carry ballast water, it would incorporate the Coast Guard mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and have supplemental ballast water requirements. The VGP would provide technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges including deck runoff, bilgewater, gray water and other types of pollutants. The permit also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring requirements as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Only a subset of the vessels potentially affected by this permit will have to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage; for all the other vessels their coverage would be automatic.

The permit for smaller recreational vessels measuring less than 79 ft in length contains simpler provisions. These smaller vessels, which are substantially different in both size and operation from larger vessels, would need to comply with new and established best management practices. In addition, these smaller vessels would not be required to submit a Notice of Intent for coverage under the permit; their coverage would be automatic.

EPA is inviting comments on both proposed permits for a period of 45 days. EPA will be holding public meetings and a hearing starting June 19.

Written Comments must be submitted by August 1, 2008

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OW–2008–0055 for the VGP or Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW–2008–0056 for the RGP, by one of the following methods:

http://www.regulations.gov : Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

●E-mail: ow-docket@epa.gov .

●Mail: Original and three copies to: Water Docket, EPA, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

Federal Register notice: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/regulations/ve ... notice.pdf

Meeting times and dates:

●Thursday, June 19, 2008, 8:00 - 4:30 PM, EPA East Bldg, Rm 1153, 1201 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20004
●Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 8:00 - 4:30 PM , Red Lion Hotel-Portland Convention Ctr. 1021 NE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97232
●Thursday, June 26, 2008, 8:00 - 4:30 PM, Ave Hotel, 160 E. Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
●Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM EDT, Live Webcast
Go to www.epa.gov/npdes/training on or about June 18 for information on how to register and attend the web cast
●Monday, July 21, 2008, 8:00 - 4:30 PM, EPA East Bldg, Rm 1153, 1201 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Information on the permits and meetings: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels

The Federal Register notice: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/regulations/ve ... notice.pdf

Also, go to: http://www.boatblue.org/ A service of NMMA

Dan Thomas, President
Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council
dan@great-lakes.org

Hamilton Reef
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Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:18 pm

Michigan ballast water law upheld in court
Federal appeals panel rejects a challenge filed by shipping companies and associations

TRAVERSE CITY -- A federal appeals court Friday upheld a Michigan law designed to prevent oceangoing freight ships from bringing invasive species to the Great Lakes in their ballast water.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati rejected a challenge to the statute filed by nine shipping companies and associations. They claimed the measure interferes with interstate commerce and is pre-empted by federal law.

Michigan requires saltwater ships to obtain a Department of Environmental Quality permit before calling at the state's ports. It certifies they either will not discharge ballast water or have onboard technology to kill live organisms in the water before it is dumped.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 1408/LOCAL

LonLB
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Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:10 pm
Location: Sturgis, MI

Post by LonLB » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:51 am

I gave myself a headach reading through all this the other night.

I was wondering if there is any mention what kind of effect VHS has had to the populations it has effected? What is the St Clair Musky population like now?

As more a multispecies angler I'm curious about the effects on other fish such as smallmouth bass too.


Just like voting, people need to realize that by doing there part WILL make a difference......I remember the indifference about the spread of Zebra mussels years ago and now it seems they are everywhere.

Hamilton Reef
Posts: 1156
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:43 am
Location: Montague, MI on White River

Post by Hamilton Reef » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:34 pm

I have not posted as much here as I could have. There are seven other states and two Canadian providences closely following the Michigan's case. Now the states will be able to start protecting their waters, thus all the states banding together may be able to start protecting the Great Lakes from the powerful maritime lobby. The Canadians have their own agendas. To be continued.......

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