Page 35: of Marine News Magazine (April 2021)

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WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS manned barges from BW regs, re- dent Biden’s Executive Order 13990

Unfortunately, to a very real extent, gardless if they are part of a tug-barge required agencies to forward for OMB ballast water regs are a perpetual work combination. CB also suggests a shift review lists of regulations that might in progress. from a COTP zone to a “common wa- not align with the new Administra-

One major unknown is to what ex- ters basis,” arguing that a “common tion’s priorities. No comment from tent a ? nal rule will match the pro- waters” delineation more accurately EPA (by deadline) if the draft VIDA posed rule, which has drawn consider- re? ects ballast water problems. was included on the Administrator’s able push-back. Consider comments, The American River Transporta- list to OMB. If it were, this whole for example, from New York State’s tion Company (ARTCO) asked EPA topic could be recast.

Environmental Protection Bureau: to ensure the exclusion from ballast “We oppose EPA’s elimination of tank requirements for vessels when the 2013 VGP (vessel general permit) discharge ballast water is taken on regulation of vessels operating exclu- from public water utilities or com- sively on the Great Lakes (“lakers”). mercial sources.

We object to the EPA’s elimination of Again, these are just a fraction of standards for lakers, and in fact main- the number and range of concerns tain that all lakers…should be subject that EPA has to consider and balance to meeting protective standards. Lakers before ? nalizing its VIDA proposal.

are the most important ballast mediat- It’s also critical to note that the EPA ed pathway of secondary aquatic inva- making decisions now about a ? nal sive species spread in the Great Lakes.” rule is not exactly the same as the

Similarly, Michigan’s Governor, agency that proposed the rule. EPA

Gretchen Whitmer, in a letter to EPA, leadership and priorities have changed copies text (or vice versa) from New and it remains to be seen how the new

York’s letter regarding exemptions for top-level management will impact ? -

Lakers. She writes further that EPA’s nal decisions. Stricter discharge stan- technology requirements are not as dards would require reassessment of strict as Michigan’s. the Coast Guard’s type-approved tech-

Washington Governor Jay Inslee, in nologies. A move to expand federal- a 62-page document, calls the draft a state coordination would delay ? nal “reckless proposal,” unable to “protect approval. EPA could further limit ves- our waters against pollution and the sel exemptions, forcing a big shift in spread of aquatic nuisance species.” businesses’ operational plans that seek

Some businesses, too, want great- to stay within safe harbors, so to speak.

er clari? cation and certainty. Canal Finally, the VIDA rule may be re-

Barge, for example, based in Loui- evaluated by the White House Of? ce siana, wants EPA to exempt all un- of Management and Budget. Presi- www.marinelink.com MN 35|