COAST GUARD CONSIDERS BALLAST WATER TREATMENT STANDARDS

COAST GUARD CONSIDERS BALLAST WATER TREATMENT STANDARDS    The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking comments from the shipping industry on how to best control environmentally damaging organisms in ship ballast water.
   Under the 1996 National Invasive Species Act, Congress authorized the Coast Guard to develop guidelines to prevent the spread of aquatic pests in U.S. waters.
   The Coast Guard’s Ballast Water and Shipping Committee, whose members include government, academic, industry and non-governmental officials, have developed four options for the industry to consider. They are outlined in a May I Federal Register notice, which can be accessed on line at: https://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=2094224979+3+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve. The agency will take comments through July 2.
   The Coast Guard and other federal agencies plan to use the industry’s feedback to help shape “a comprehensive program of standards and regulations to protect U.S. waters from introductions of NIS (nonindigenous species) due to ballast water discharges and other ship-related mechanisms.”