Under the Vessel Incident Discharge Act (VIDA) 2018 @EPA Office of Water & @USCG continue working in tandem on a unified regulatory framework for Discharges from Commercial Vessels. 

@USCG is authorized under Natl Invasive Species Act to regulate and enforce ballast water discharge standards. @EPA & @USCG are integrating @EPA ‘s Vessel General Permit (VGP) requirements into the ballast discharge standards. 

By December 2020, @EPA Office of Water is required to develop national standards of performance for approximately 30 discharges (like the discharges in the EPA 2013 VGP). In most cases, the future standards will be at least as stringent as the existing EPA 2013 VGP requirements and will be technology-based.

Two years thereafter (~2022) @USCG is required to develop corresponding implementation, compliance, and enforcement regulations. These may include requirements governing:

• design,
• construction,
• testing,
• approval,
• installation,
• inspections,
• monitoring,
• reporting,
• recordkeeping, and
• use of devices to achieve the EPA national standards of performance.

Until then, large commercial vessels & small vessels should follow existing vessel discharge requirements established through @EPA 2013 Vessel General Permit & the @USCG ballast water regulations, and any applicable state and local government requirements.

Shipping companies and seaports should be aware of the potential impacts of the VIDA national standards of performance currently being crafted. Do you know about ongoing and future developments of the VIDA regulations? If not, contact us at [email protected], or (202)714-2822.

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Tim Cansler

Chief Strategist at Cansler Consulting, LLC

Tim has over 30 years of extensive experience in federal legislative and regulatory matters. His trusted advise helps clients navigate federal government processes to successful policy outcomes. He is a member of the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics in Washington, D.C.

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