Tag: US EPA

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.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined a Panama-flagged containership and a Philippines-flagged bulk carrier.

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

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.

This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed standards to reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels.

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 EPA has awarded the Port of Baltimore $1.8 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funds to replace older diesel-powered equipment with newer, cleaner versions. The grant will cover about 44 dray trucks, commonly used for transporting shipping containers to and from the Port.

US EPA suggested to amend the national marine diesel engine program to provide relief provisions to address concerns regarding the finding and installing certified Tier 4 marine diesel engines in certain high-speed commercial vessels. The proposed relief is in the form of additional lead time for qualifying engines and vessels.

The Environmental Protection Agency withdrew its proposal for restrictions that would have protected Bristol Bay, Alaska from the Pebble Mine, a gold and copper mine proposed at the headwaters of Bristol Bay’s famous salmon runs.