On December 19, 2013 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will implement its new Vessel General Permit (VGP), which the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) said will demand a technical solution that is currently unavailable to the marine industry. However, there is little flexibility in the VGP to accommodate this delay, leaving shipowners with an impossible requirement, the CSA said. This untenable situation could lead to significant impacts for Canadian shipowners if left unresolved. Given the dependence of American and Canadian industry on the marine transportation sector, finding a short-term solution to facilitate commerce is imperative. The CSA has been working on multiple fronts to find relief from this situation of inflexibility.