The U.S. Coast
Guard seeks consultation with interested and affected parties in establishing a program to approve ballast water treatment systems. The intent is to ensure that ballast water treatment systems approved for use on vessels will meet the ballast water discharge standard the Coast Guard will be implementing in the near future. Comments and related material should be submitted by December 3, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 47453 (August 5, 2004).