Vessel Incidental Discharge Act

Summary

Vessel Incidental Discharge Act This bill requires the Coast Guard to establish and implement enforceable uniform national standards for the regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel into navigable waters. The Coast Guard's existing rule for ballast water discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel are adopted until those performance standards are revised or a more stringent state standard is adopted. Ballast water is water taken aboard a vessel to control stability or during the operation of a vessel's ballast water treatment technology. Within two years, the Coast Guard must establish best management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel other than ballast water. By January 1, 2020, the Coast Guard must complete a feasibility review to determine whether revising ballast water performance standards will result in a scientifically demonstrable and substantial reduction in the risk of introduction or establishment of aquatic nuisance species. The Coast Guard must establish a revised standard based on the ballast water treatment technology available. Further revisions to the performance standards are to be considered every 10 years. This bill establishes a certification requirement for ballast water treatment technology. The Coast Guard may not approve a technology if it uses a biocide or generates a biocide that is a pesticide. This bill establishes a petition process for a state seeking to enforce a state or local statute or regulation related to ballast water discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel that is more stringent than federal performance standards.

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Timeline

1. 4 February 2015

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 4 February 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 26 February 2015

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

4. 29 July 2015

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 171.

   Source: Calendars

5. 29 July 2015

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-96.

   Source: Committee

6. 29 July 2015

   Reported

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-96.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 29 July 2015 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 4 February 2015 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 July 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 29 July 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 29 July 2015

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 February 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 February 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 4 February 2015

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] · R · Sponsor
• John Thune · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Nelson, Bill [D-FL-11] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH] · R · Cosponsor
• John Boozman · R · Cosponsor
• Shelley Capito · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [I-WV] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [D-AL] · R · Cosponsor
• Christopher Coons · D · Cosponsor
• Bill Cassidy · R · Cosponsor
• Roger Wicker · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] · D · Cosponsor
• Jeanne Shaheen · D · Cosponsor
• Brian Schatz · D · Cosponsor
• Dan Sullivan · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · D · Cosponsor
• Susan Collins · R · Cosponsor
• John Cornyn · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] · R · Cosponsor
• James Risch · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] · D · Cosponsor
• Mike Crapo · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA] · R · Cosponsor
• · sscm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Vessel Incidental Discharge Act
• related to ← National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017