BoatUS.com: Government Affairs
Congress Tackles Discharge Permits
BoatUS Magazine – July 2007
(press time early June – updated information at bottom)
Six years ago, a number of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species by mandating the treatment of ballast water in large commercial ships. As reported in March 2007 BoatUS Magazine, a fall 2006 decision by the 9th District Court has now required the EPA to develop an operational discharge permit for all vessels — recreational and commercial — in the United States, by Sept. 30, 2008. In the worst-case scenario, if they don’t implement a permit system by then, and nothing is done to change this decision, boaters could face citizen lawsuits as they operate their boats on or after Oct. 1, 2008.