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.
Effective from June 30, 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop accepting Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports (FONARs). Failure to make the notifications required by MARPOL Annex VI, 18.2.4 may result in a vessel control and/or enforcement action.
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.
On March 12, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced enforcement actions involving $530,199 in fines and more than 10,000 engines and vehicles imported into the US. These actions are the result of joint operations between EPA and the US Customs and Border Protection at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, to identify foreign-made engines and vehicles that do not have proper emission controls.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is awarding a grant of US$400,000 to the Alabama State Port Authority in Mobile, Ala., to support efforts to reduce diesel emissions and exposure by replacing one 1982 locomotive with a Tier IV locomotive engine.
Trident Seafoods Corporation has agreed to limit emissions of ozone-depleting substances from refrigeration equipment on its ships, under a proposed settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Justice to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The company will also pay a $900,000 civil penalty.
