September 13, 2014 — Commercial fishermen like Bradley Styron, owner and operator of Quality Seafood of Cedar Island, wash their decks and pump out their bilge water on a regular basis during their everyday operations. But if a bill currently before the Senate doesn’t get passed, they might have to meet tougher environmental regulations to do so.
Sen. Mark Begich, D-Ark., introduced the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (S.2094) in the Senate March 6. Since July 23, it’s been before the Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; if the bill doesn’t get passed by the end of the current congressional session, then in December current exemptions for commercial fishing vessels from vessel discharge requirements will expire.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, water.epa.gov, the agency regulates discharges from the normal operations of vessels, such as ballast water, bilge, graywater (water from sinks, showers, etc.) and anti-foulant paints and their leachate. The agency requires a vessel general permit for these discharges for commercial vessels over 79 feet long and operated as a means of transportation.
Commercial fishing vessels and other commercial vessels are currently under a moratorium for being required to get a permit. However, the EPA website says this moratorium expires on Thursday, Dec. 18.
This means if no new legislation extends or replaces this moratorium, commercial vessels under 79 feet, including fishing vessels, will need a VGP for small vessels. The EPA estimates this will affect about 115,000-138,000 vessels. Commercial vessels 79 feet and over will need to get a regular VGP.
Read the full story at Carolina Coast Online