Capt. Keith Wils
03-09-2011, 06:45 AM
Michigan prevails in Great Lakes ballast water battle
Settlement is a step toward protecting Great Lakes from ballast water invasives
State officials today announced an important step forward in the effort to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes, signing a settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will better regulate ballast water from commercial vessels.
Since 2005, Michigan has led the fight for commonsense regulations to protect the Great Lakes from damaging invasive species transported in the ballast water of oceangoing vessels. Michigan and a coalition of other Great Lakes states and leading environmental organizations ultimately prevailed in establishing baseline regulations after suing the EPA in federal district court in California to force it to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to regulate ballast water discharges. EPA’s first “Vessel General Permit” regulating invasive species transported in ballast water was issued in 2009.
Yet instead of requiring modern ballast water treatment technologies, the EPA simply required ships use the inadequate “swish and spit” saltwater flushing process developed over a decade ago. The new permit also failed to ensure all state water quality standards were met throughout the interstate waters of the Great Lakes. Under the federal regulations, states with more protective standards still faced the risk of pollution from ballast water dumped under less stringent guidelines from neighboring states. An effective minimum “floor” standard to unify the various Great Lakes states’ water quality standards was still required for the permit to fully protect the region’s waterways.
“The Great Lakes define the State of Michigan,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “But our waters are now home to more than 180 aquatic invaders, introduced and spread by unregulated ballast water. I urge the EPA to move swiftly on plans to offer a long-term protection strategy for the Great Lakes.”
Today’s settlement agreement outlines a process for the EPA to establish common protective standards for ballast water discharges to United States waters. Key elements of the settlement agreement include:
• Arranging for scientific reports, speeding up the time line for issuance of the next Vessel General Permit;
• Facilitating regional communication for ballast water regulation; and,
• Providing information on the development of the next VGP requirements.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the state will continue to pressure federal regulators for basin-wide, common standards.
“It’s time to bring the fight against invasive species into the 21st century,” said Schuette. “This agreement moves the EPA forward to more effective methods that will protect our Great Lakes and the jobs that depend upon them.”
The EPA has enlisted experts from the National Academy of Sciences to help develop its next VGP. These experts will craft a risk analysis on release of organisms from ballast water.
Further, the EPA's Science Advisory Board will report on the performance and availability of ballast water treatment technology. Both reports are expected to be completed by May 31. The EPA's current VGP expires Dec. 19, 2013, but through the settlement agreement, the U.S. EPA committed to drafting the next VGP by Nov. 30, 2011, and a new final VGP by Nov. 30, 2012.
The agreement also requires EPA to provide information and facilitate communication with Michigan and the other Great Lakes states after the issuance of the next draft VGP. Patricia Birkholz, Director of Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes, said she looks forward to working with other Great Lakes states and federal partners to craft strong and effective common standards.
“This issue impacts everyone who has a stake in the health of our waters,” Birkholz said. “The list of new invasive species grows yearly, and we need to halt the introduction and spread of these foreign invaders. At the end of the day, we want strong ballast water standards and consistent protection for all the Great Lakes.”
For additional information, please contact the Office of the Great Lakes at 517-335-4056.
Jim Dexter
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator
621 North 10th Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269)685-6851 extension 116
Settlement is a step toward protecting Great Lakes from ballast water invasives
State officials today announced an important step forward in the effort to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes, signing a settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will better regulate ballast water from commercial vessels.
Since 2005, Michigan has led the fight for commonsense regulations to protect the Great Lakes from damaging invasive species transported in the ballast water of oceangoing vessels. Michigan and a coalition of other Great Lakes states and leading environmental organizations ultimately prevailed in establishing baseline regulations after suing the EPA in federal district court in California to force it to use its authority under the Clean Water Act to regulate ballast water discharges. EPA’s first “Vessel General Permit” regulating invasive species transported in ballast water was issued in 2009.
Yet instead of requiring modern ballast water treatment technologies, the EPA simply required ships use the inadequate “swish and spit” saltwater flushing process developed over a decade ago. The new permit also failed to ensure all state water quality standards were met throughout the interstate waters of the Great Lakes. Under the federal regulations, states with more protective standards still faced the risk of pollution from ballast water dumped under less stringent guidelines from neighboring states. An effective minimum “floor” standard to unify the various Great Lakes states’ water quality standards was still required for the permit to fully protect the region’s waterways.
“The Great Lakes define the State of Michigan,” said Governor Rick Snyder. “But our waters are now home to more than 180 aquatic invaders, introduced and spread by unregulated ballast water. I urge the EPA to move swiftly on plans to offer a long-term protection strategy for the Great Lakes.”
Today’s settlement agreement outlines a process for the EPA to establish common protective standards for ballast water discharges to United States waters. Key elements of the settlement agreement include:
• Arranging for scientific reports, speeding up the time line for issuance of the next Vessel General Permit;
• Facilitating regional communication for ballast water regulation; and,
• Providing information on the development of the next VGP requirements.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said the state will continue to pressure federal regulators for basin-wide, common standards.
“It’s time to bring the fight against invasive species into the 21st century,” said Schuette. “This agreement moves the EPA forward to more effective methods that will protect our Great Lakes and the jobs that depend upon them.”
The EPA has enlisted experts from the National Academy of Sciences to help develop its next VGP. These experts will craft a risk analysis on release of organisms from ballast water.
Further, the EPA's Science Advisory Board will report on the performance and availability of ballast water treatment technology. Both reports are expected to be completed by May 31. The EPA's current VGP expires Dec. 19, 2013, but through the settlement agreement, the U.S. EPA committed to drafting the next VGP by Nov. 30, 2011, and a new final VGP by Nov. 30, 2012.
The agreement also requires EPA to provide information and facilitate communication with Michigan and the other Great Lakes states after the issuance of the next draft VGP. Patricia Birkholz, Director of Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes, said she looks forward to working with other Great Lakes states and federal partners to craft strong and effective common standards.
“This issue impacts everyone who has a stake in the health of our waters,” Birkholz said. “The list of new invasive species grows yearly, and we need to halt the introduction and spread of these foreign invaders. At the end of the day, we want strong ballast water standards and consistent protection for all the Great Lakes.”
For additional information, please contact the Office of the Great Lakes at 517-335-4056.
Jim Dexter
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator
621 North 10th Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269)685-6851 extension 116