Ballast Water Management Changes Proposed

The California State Lands Commission (SLC) issued a Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action relating to management of ballast water on ships of 300 gross registered tons or more arriving in California after having taken on ballast water from places within the Pacific Coast Region. The Pacific Coast Region is defined as coastal waters on the Pacific Coast of North America east of 154°W longitude and north of 25°N latitude, exclusive of the Gulf of California. While several alternatives are provided for, the major ballast water management measure proposed is the exchange of the ship’s ballast water in near-coastal waters (waters that are more than 50 nautical miles from land and at least 200 meters deep). Under the proposal, the SLC would assess a per voyage fee of $500. The incremental cost for a voyage to comply with the proposed regulation is estimated to be between $3,000 and $40,000. Comments on the proposal must be submitted by April 7. The SLC also issued the Text of the Proposed Changes, as well as an Initial Statement of Reasons for the proposal. (HK Law)