Environmental Law

Another Shipping Industry Worry

By Walter James

I have blogged in the past about the ?magic pipe? cases that the USDOJ and the USCG bring noting that the USDOJ has a ?practice group? handling all of these cases. 

Now, there is something else to worry about come April 2011.  The USCG says it will release final regulations in April 2011 limiting the number of live organisms in that a ship make carry in its ballast water.  How is it going to do that?  The USCG is taking the position that the shipping industry with have to figure out how to comply.  The USEPA is also developing regulations regarding discharges of ballast water and other wastewater from vessel (the subject of lawsuits by shipping companies and environmentalists.  The USEPA is discussing settlements of those lawsuits all while crafting an updated discharge permit that is to be effective in 2013.  Overlaying all of that is the dozen or so states that also have ballast water discharge policies.  This will lead to a patchwork requirement nightmare for shipping companies. 

Overlay that with the Port and Waterways Safety Act and you start wondering just how a shipper can stay atop of all of the regulations.    

More later.

As always, feel free to contact me via e-mail at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii

Full post as published by Environmental Crimes Blog on February 07, 2011 (boomark / email).