Vessel Incidental Discharge Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

4 February 2015

Last action

29 July 2015 · Reported

Status

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

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

4 February 2015
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
4 February 2015
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
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
29 July 2015
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 171.
Source: Calendars
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
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 · Download file
Introduced in Senate · 4 February 2015 · Download file

Documents

6 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 29 July 2015
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 29 July 2015
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 29 July 2015
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 February 2015
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 February 2015
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 4 February 2015
Open at official source
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Related records

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

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/373
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/114/s/373
us · 114-s-373 · source updated 6 December 2025