Tag: EPA VGP

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the finalization of national discharge standards to control the release of pollutants and invasive species from approximately 85,000 vessels operating in U.S. waters.

Ship Managers with vessels covered under the 2013 VGP are required to submit the annual report by February 29th 2024 (for activities conducted from January 1st 2023 until December 31st 2023).

On October 26, 2020, EPA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance – was published in the Federal Register for public comment. The proposed rule will reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. When finalized, this new rule will streamline the current patchwork of federal, state, and local requirements that apply to the commercial vessel community and better protect US waters.

The implementation timeline for the implementation of certain components of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act will be significantly delayed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of grant funding to carry out projects which reduce emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older diesel engines.

On October 26, 2020, EPA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance – was published in the Federal Register for public comment. The proposed rule will reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. When finalized, this new rule will streamline the current patchwork of federal, state, and local requirements that apply to the commercial vessel community and better protect US waters.

The VGP is a USA Clean Water Act, NPDES permit that authorizes discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels greater than 79 feet in length. The 2013 Vessel General Permit that replaced the 2008 Vessel General Permit, has incorporated a new requirements for a submission of an electronically annual report by February 28th covering activities conducted from January 1st, till December 31, of previous year.

On Wednesday, 18 December 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its diesel fuel regulations aiming to allow fuel suppliers distribute distillate diesel fuel that complies with the Sulphur standard that applies internationally for ships instead of the fuel standards that otherwise apply to distillate diesel fuel in the US. 

The US Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA 90) provides for an adjustment of the limits of liability according to increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) not less than ever three years. On 13 August 2019, the USCG published a final rule to increase limits of liability for vessels under OPA 90.

After attending the VIDA webinar the EPA and the USCG co-arranged, Mouawad Consulting has summarised the latest information. Some of the highlights of the discussion regard the fact that the new regulation is not expected to be enforced before December 2022, and that standards are likely to be technology-based and not risk-based.