USCG VIDA policy proposal
On 31 July, the US Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register stating that it is seeking comments on a draft policy letter that, if adopted, would establish the Coast Guard’s policy for acceptance of type-approval testing protocols for ballast water management systems (BWMSs) that render nonviable organisms in ballast water and may be used in addition to the methods under existing regulations. This policy would include the process for incorporating accepted protocols into the type-approval procedures established under existing regulations…
Ballast Water Update: Weighing the Advent of VIDA
The hard-fought passage of VIDA promises a simpler, more unified and logical set of environmental standards related to the discharge of myriad vessel streams. Industry wanted it, and now it is here. Will it deliver, and if so, when? That depends on who you talk to.As most commercial maritime operators know, US ballast water regulations made a sharp turn last December. That’s when President Trump signed the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.That legislation contained Title IX – the “Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA)…
Aquatic Nuisance Species Meetings Set
Three regional panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service, will conduct meetings. The Northeast Regional Panel will meet in Newport, Rhode Island on May 17-18. The Gulf of Mexico Regional Task Force will meet in Mobile, Alabama on March 31 and April 1. The Great Lakes Regional Panel will meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 26-27. 69 Fed. Reg. 12175 (HK Law).
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to Meet
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force/National Invasive Species Council (NISC) Prevention Committee, sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service, will meet in Washington, DC on May 4. Items on the agenda include review and approval of the Roles and Responsibilities draft document; identification of the Prevention Committee member’s responsibilities to the five working groups; and discussion of actions required to get working groups functioning. 69 Fed. Reg. 21569 (HK Law).
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Meeting
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel will meet in Key West on May 12-13. 70 Fed. Reg. 24112 (May 6, 2005). The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force will meet in Monterey, California on May 24-26. Among other things, the Task Force will discuss ballast water management. 70 Fed. Reg. 24113 (HK Law).
Aquatic Nuisance Task Force Meeting
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service, will meet in Herndon, Virginia on October 19 and 20. Topics on the agenda include the 100th Meridian Initiative, Caulerpa eradication, invasive species forecasting, and risk analysis. 70 Fed. Reg. 59079 (HK Law).
