Office of Management and Budget states
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) hasstatedthat it has returned to the US Coast Guard the draft interim final rule for Standards for Living Organisms in Ships’ Ballast water Discharged in U.S. Waters. The move closely follows last week’s OMB announcement thattheir consideration of said rule would be delayed. OMB only said that the rule was “improperly submitted.” The annouincement only further serves to provide uncertainty to shipowners who would like to get Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) equipment installed and dismay for BWT manufacturers who would like to gear up for the almost 40,000 hulls that will need systems in the near future. An IMO standard is already in play, with many nations as signatories. Most stakeholders hope (and expect) that the Coast Guard’s interim rule will, when it comes into play, will mirror the IMO standard.
Separately, theNew York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) last week issued a press release stating that it will pursue a uniform national ballast water standard by leaving in place the EPA’s current standards in New York for the remainder of EPA’s current Vessel General Permit through December 2013.
New York’s decision to (at least temporarily) release its hold on a standard that is unattainable and one which no technology yet exists to measure its efficacy, was viewed by most stakeholders as very good news. The move also gives hope that a national standard can be achieved at some point in the future. Both the American Great Lakes Ports Association and Transport Canada applauded the decision. On the other hand, the latest OMB decision will clearly be viewed as a setback for the long and drawn-out process.
Source: MarineLink
