Rulemakings

On August 28, 2009 the United States Coast Guard (USCG) proposed a two-phase ballast water discharge standard.  The phase-one standard is based on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) “Regulation D-2” standard of the Ballast Water Management Convention.  The phase-two standard is based on the most stringent U.S. state regulations proposed, which are essentially 1,000 times more stringent than phase-one standards.  In this rule-making, the Coast Guard is also establishing an approval process for ballast water management systems.

Also on August 28, 2009, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule under the Clean Air Act that sets new engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships, which are consistent with amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Annex VI).  This rule would apply to the proposed binational Emission Control Area (ECA), which is within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of both the U.S. and Canada and includes the Great Lakes.