Tag: EPA VGP

Five categories of treatment systems The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board issued its draft Efficacy of Ballast Water Treatment Systems Report on 31 May.The report in its final form could form the foundation of Federal and State legislation on ballast water treatment and as such has some important conclusions regarding the ability of ballast water treatment systems to be able to meet more stringent requirements than those in the IMO's Ballast Water Convention.The significant outcome of the report suggests that there are five categories of treatment systems** currently available to the shipping industry that can meet the IMO standard (Phase 1 of the proposed U.S. Federal rules). However, to meet standards 100x or 1000x more stringent would require a whole new process of treatment and measurement of effectiveness as opposed to improvements on the current systems.Noting current limitations on the ballast water treatment and testing protocols, the Report recommends: a risk-based systems approach to setting goals and implementing ballast water management; the use of improved sampling protocols for verifying discharge concentrations; the development of reliable protocols for compliance monitoring; and even the consideration of reception facilities to treat ballast water discharges - it seems the use of ...

The ship contains many tonnes of hazardous asbestos, toxic paints and fuel residues After being banned in Bangladesh, a toxic-laden ship, Probo Koala, is headed towards Indian shores for dismantling, a global group of activists called 'NGO Shipbreaking Platform' has warned.The ship, a 1989-built oil carrier cargo vessel weighing 31,255 tonnes now named Gulf Jash, was banned from entering Bangladesh waters recently after environmentalists in neighbouring countries warned the government about it.The ship has been in the thick of controversy in Africa and Europe. Its previous owner, a company called Trafigura, tried to offload its on-board toxic material in Amsterdam. It was detected in time and when the authorities imposed heavy charges for proper disposal, the company decided to instead send the ship to Africa.After trying its luck in Nigeria, the company finally found a dealer in Ivory Coast to dump the chemicals off board. Hundreds of tonnes of toxic chemicals were poured into the country's largest city, Abidjan. NGO Shipbreaking Platform said the toxic dumps lead to the death of 16 people and thousands of people falling ill.The company had to reportedly settle cases out of court by paying out 30 million pounds to the victims and nearly 100 ...

California to enforce its emission standards The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice stating that it is granting California its request for authorization to enforce its emission standards and other requirements for its second tier ("Tier II") of emission standards for new marine inboard/sterndrive spark-ignition engines. Petitions for review must be filed by July 5.To view the Notice please click hereSource: EPA

Facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice stating that it has received a petition requesting a determination that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for waters of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, collectively termed the Outer Cape Cod. Comments on this petition must be submitted by May 31.To view the notice please click hereSource: EPA

Control of emissions The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a correction to its regulations regarding control of emissions from new and in-use marine compression-ignition engines and vessels.The correction relates to the definition of "new vessel".To view the Notice please click hereSource: EPA

Spring 2011 edition The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Spring 2011 edition of its NPDES Vessels Program Quarterly.This edition addresses, among other things, submittal of one-time reports and issuance of the next draft Vessel General Permit (VGP).Source : US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Review of regulations The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking input on the design of a plan to use for periodic retrospective review of its regulations.To view thr notice please click hereSpurce: Environmental Protection Agency