US Announces $59 Million to Spur Biofuels Usage
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $59 million to accelerate the production of biofuels and bioproducts to reduce emissions in industries such as maritime.The department said it is focused on applied research, development and deployment to improve the performance and reduce the cost of biofuel production technologies and scale-up production systems in partnership with industry. "By reducing costs and technical risks, these efforts can help pave the way for the biofuels industry to deploy commercial-scale integrated biorefineries," the DOE said.
Michigan to Regulate Ballast Water Discharges
The State of Michigan enacted two laws intended to regulate discharges in the state of ballast water from ocean-going ships. Act No. 32 broadly prohibits injurious discharges and specifically prohibits unauthorized discharges of ballast water from oceangoing ships. Act No. 33 provides that, effective January 1, 2007, an ocean-going ship may not engage in port operations in the state unless it has a permit and that, to obtain a permit, the ship must demonstrate either that it will not discharge aquatic nuisance species or that it will utilize environmentally sound technology and methods to prevent such discharges. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued a Press Release announcing her signing of the two measures. Source: HK Law
A New Port in Paulsboro, New Jersey?
With its two marine terminals bursting at over-capacity and no room to grow in the rejuvenating Camden City, the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC) authorized $135 million in bonds to develop a world-class expansion port at Paulsboro, N.J., six miles south of Camden on the Delaware River. "We're turning ships and cargo away and that means we're turning away jobs, economic opportunity and business and that's bad for the New Jersey economy. There is no room to grow in Camden so we're expanding into Paulsboro and that's good business, good economics and good policy" said Joseph Balzano, SJPC Executive Director. Balzano estimated that once the port receives the necessary agreements, contracts and permits, it would take 24 to 36 months to build the port and open for operations.
Great Lakes States to Address Ballast Water Issue
Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm has joined Attorneys General from around the Great Lakes states in filing a brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that asks the Court to order the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the problem of aquatic nuisance species in the ballast water of Great Lakes ships. In a "friend of the court" brief filed jointly with the states of New York, Minnesota, and Illinois, Granholm asked the EPA to repeal its exemption of ballast water from federal Clean Water Act (CWA) regulations. Currently, the CWA requires sea-going vessels that discharge pollutants to obtain a permit, but ballast water is exempt from the requirement.
