Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 29/12/2008

Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of a Vessel

EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are finalizing an NPDES Vessel General Permit (VGP) to cover discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels. This action is in response to a District Court ruling that vacates, as of December 19, 2008, a long- standing EPA regulation that excludes discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel from the need to obtain an NPDES permit. As of December 19, 2008, discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel that had formerly been exempted from NPDES permitting by the regulation will be subject to the prohibition in CWA Section 301(a) against the discharge of pollutants without a permit. EPA solicited information and data on discharges incidental to normal vessel operations to assist in developing two NPDES general permits in a Federal Register Notice published June 21, 2007 (72 FR 32421). The majority of information and data in response to that notice came from seven different groups: Individual citizens, commercial fishing representatives, commercial shipping groups, environmental or outdoor recreation groups, the oil and gas industry, recreational boating-related businesses, and state governments. EPA cons