Tag: EPA VGP

President Obama has taken action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change and protect our environment

UK P&I Club issues Knowledge bulletin The UK P&I Club issued a Knowledge bulletin regarding the stepped up enforcement in the North American ECA.In a new enforcement initiative, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), has boarded vessels to collect bunker samples to determine whether the vessels fuel sources meet the 1.0% fuel oil sulphur limit applicable within the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA).The EPA also disclosed that it has been experimenting with vessel flyovers to assess vessel smokestack plumes for the same purpose.The EPAs unprecedented action, coming on the heels of its issuance of administrative subpoenas to several large companies operating ships within the North American ECA, announced stepped up efforts to enforce low sulphur fuel requirements within the North American ECA. Until this recent initiative, EPA and USCG officials seemed content to simply monitor compliance efforts by reviewing ECA-related records and documents such as Bunker Delivery Receipts during Port State Control inspections. These joint EPA/USCG initiatives to enforce fuel standards should serve as a warning to Clubs Members operating within the North American ECA. The commercial and legal consequences of a failure to comply with the ECAs fuel ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the completion of all cleanup work of Waukegan Harbor

Mapped size confirms NOAA forecast for an average-sized hypoxia zone this year NOAA- and EPA-supported scientists have mapped the Gulf of Mexico dead zone, an area with low oxygen water, measuring 5,052 square miles this summer - approximately the size of Connecticut. The measurements were taken during the 30th annual hypoxia survey cruise from July 27 to August 2.This area falls within the predicted range of 4,633 to 5,708 square miles forecast by a suite of NOAA-sponsored models and confirms the accuracy of the models and their utility for guiding management of nutrients in the Mississippi River watershed.The size is smaller than the 5,840 square miles recorded last year but still greater than the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient (Hypoxia) Task Force target of less than 1,900 square miles - meaning nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed are continuing to affect the nation's coastal resources and habitats in the Gulf. The task force consists of five federal agencies, 12 states and the tribes within the Mississippi/ Atchafalaya River Basin, and was established in 1997 to reduce and control hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.The largest Gulf dead zone ever recorded occurred in 2002, encompassing 8,481 square miles. The smallest ...

EPA Instructions for reporting compliant fuel oil non- availability

The U.S. EPA has awarded nearly $800,000 to the Houston-Galveston Area Council to reduce emissions from non-road equipment and marine vessels

Wärtsilä has received an important service level recognition for its Wärtsilä Airguard and Wärtsilä Oceanguard propeller shaft sealing systems from Lloyd's Register

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) second Vessel General Permit (VGP orPermit) for discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels took effect on 19 December2013. The second Vessel General Permit was finalized on March 28, 2013 and replace the 2008 VGP when it expired last December

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $9 million in grant funding for clean diesel projects to reduce diesel pollution and emissions exposure from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines.

New ports initiative to advnace sustainable technologies The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting the "Advancing Sustainable Ports" summit to mark the kickoff of a new EPA initiative to recognize ports that take action to improve environmental performance. EPA will also award $4.2 million in grant funding for clean diesel projects at six U.S. ports."Ports are the main gateway for U.S. trade and are critical to our country's economic growth, yet the communities surrounding ports face serious environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Today we demonstrate that through collaboration and innovation we can achieve the goals of economic growth and environmental stewardship."Most of the country's busiest ports are located in or near large metropolitan areas and, as a result, people in nearby communities can be exposed to high levels of pollution. For example, diesel powered port equipment can seriously impact air quality for nearby residents and generate substantial greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions. Implementing clean air strategies at ports will reduce emissions and provide health benefits from improved air quality for workers and families who live nearby.Over the past eight months, EPA has led a national conversation on ports, which brought together a wide variety of stakeholders ...