Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011

Summary

Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow a person owning, operating, or chartering by demise a commercial vessel to discharge ballast water into navigable waters only if the discharge: (1) meets the ballast water performance standard, qualifies as a safety exemption, meets the requirements of an alternative method of compliance and the vessel operates exclusively within a geographically limited area or operates pursuant to a geographic restriction, or is made into a facility that meets applicable standards; and (2) is in accordance with an approved ballast water management plan. Exempts specified vessels. Requires owners or operators to: (1) conduct ballast water treatment before discharging ballast water using a ballast water treatment technology certified for the vessel; and (2) ensure that any ballast water discharge meets the numerical ballast water performance standard set forth in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments or a revised standard. Authorizes an owner or operator to discharge ballast water without regard to a ballast water performance standard if: (1) the discharge is done solely to ensure the safety of life at sea; (2) the discharge is accidental and the result of damage to the commercial vessel or its equipment, all reasonable precautions to prevent or minimize the discharge have been taken, and the owner or operator did not willfully or recklessly cause such damage; or (3) the discharge is solely for the purpose of avoiding or minimizing the discharge of pollution that would otherwise violate federal or state law. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete by January 1, 2016, and every 10 years thereafter a review to determine whether revising the ballast water performance standard would result in a reduction in the risk of the introduction and establishment of aquatic nuisance species. Prohibits the Administrator or a state from requiring any new permit or permit condition under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for any discharge of ballast water from a commercial vessel into navigable waters. Requires the Administrator, within three years, to evaluate discharges incidental to the normal operation of a commercial vessel. Revises provisions concerning the expiration of the Vessel General Permit for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels issued under NPDES. Prohibits the regulation of a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a commercial vessel or a discharge of ballast water from a commercial vessel in any manner other than specified in this Act. Repeals provisions of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 directing the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue voluntary guidelines to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes through the exchange of ballast water of vessels prior to entering those waters.

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Documents

6 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 3 November 2011

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• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 3 November 2011

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 3 November 2011

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 6 September 2011

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 6 September 2011

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 2 September 2011

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