DSW: Draft 401 Certification for U.S. EPA’s Vessel General NPDES Permit

Last Updated: Monday, 01-Dec-2008 16:34:12 EST

Draft 401 Certification for U.S. EPA’s Vessel General NPDES Permit

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December 1, 2008

Ohio EPA has issued the final 401 Water Quality Certification. Go here for more information.

A public information session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on November 12, 2008, at the University of Toledo's Lake Erie Center, 6200 Bayshore, Oregon. During the information session, Ohio EPA will present information about the draft certification and answer questions.

October 10, 2008

Notice is hereby given that on October 14, 2008, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency will issue a draft 401 Certification for the U.S. EPA’s Vessel General NPDES permit. "Draft Actions" are written statements of the Director's intent with respect to the issuance, denial, etc. of a permit, license, order, etc. Interested persons may submit written comments regarding draft actions.

The U.S. EPA has issued a draft general NPDES permit for discharges from the operation of vessels. The permit would cover vessels nationwide, and covers and regulates a wide variety of discharges from vessels, including ballast water, bilge water and gray water discharged from vessels. Sanitary wastewater discharges are exempt from the Clean Water Act, but are covered by U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

All federal actions that could affect water quality in a state must obtain a certification from the state that the action meets state water quality standards. The issue affecting Ohio waters is the ballast water discharge and whether that discharge meets Ohio Water Quality Standards. Ballast water is water and associated suspended sediments taken into or discharged from ballast tanks to maintain the stability of the vessel.

A public hearing is scheduled for November 26, 2008. Comments must be received by November 26, 2008. See the documents below for more information.