Vessel
Discharges Require Permit (Dec 18, 2008) Environmental Protection Agency.
A new general permit will reduce releases of
26 types of discharges from vessels operating
in U.S. waters. Beginning Dec 19, approximately
61,000 domestically flagged commercial vessels
and 8,000 foreign flagged vessels will need
to comply with the Final
Vessel General Permit. As
a result of a court ruling, vessel owners and
operators who have previously been exempt from
Clean Water Act requirements for the last 35
years will now require a permit starting Dec
19. The
permit covers non-recreational vessels 79 feet
in length or longer, such as cruise ships or
oil and cargo tankers, but excludes fishing
vessels of any length, unless they discharge
ballast water.
