California Delay Ballast Water Regulation Implementation
California State Lands Commission has passed Senate Bill (SB) 814, which will become effective on January 1, 2014. Among its provisions, SB 814 amends Public Resources Code section 71205.3 and delays implementation of the interim performance standards for two years.
The following represents the revised implementation schedule:
Ballast capacity of vessel: <1500 metric tons
- Standards to apply to new vessels in this size class constructed on or after: January 1, 2016
- Standards to apply to all other vessels in this size class beginning on: January 1, 2018
Ballast capacity of vessel: 1500-5000 metric tons
- Standards to apply to new vessels in this size class constructed on or after: January 1, 2016
- Standards to apply to all other vessels in this size class beginning on: January 1, 2016
Ballast capacity of vessel: >5000 metric tons
- Standards to apply to new vessels in this size class constructed on or after: January 1, 2016
- Standards to apply to all other vessels in this size class beginning on: January 1, 2018
NB: this delay does not apply to the implementation of the final discharge standard of zero detectable living organisms for all size classes by January 1, 2020.
Background
On June 21, 2013, the California State Lands Commission approved a report to the California Legislature recommending a delay in the implementation of California's interim performance standards for the discharge of ballast water. The recommendation was based on the lack of advisable treatment technologies to comply with all of California's standards. The above-mentioned legislation reflects this decision.