US Congress Senate Bill 2094 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum:
Status: Introduced on March 6 2014 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2014-12-10 - By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-304.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Vessel Incidental Discharge Act - Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating: (1) to establish and implement enforceable uniform national standards for the regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel into navigable waters; (2) within two years, to issue a rule establishing best management practices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel other than ballast water; (3) at least two years before January 1, 2022, to complete a review to determine the feasibility of achieving the ballast water performance standard; and (4) by January 1, 2022, to issue a rule to revise the standard so that a ballast water discharge will contain less than specified concentrations of living organisms, indicator microbes, and viruses. Deems the management requirements for a ballast water discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel to be those set forth in the final rule, "Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters" (March 23, 2012), as corrected (June 8, 2012) until the Secretary revises the ballast water performance standard or adopts a more stringent state standard pursuant to this Act. Applies the revised ballast water performance standard to a vessel on the first dry docking of the vessel on or after January 1, 2022, but no later than December 31, 2024. Allows the Secretary to establish a deadline for compliance by a vessel (or a class, type, or size of vessel) with a revised ballast water performance standard. Provides a process for petitioning for an extension of a deadline, including factors to be considered. Requires the Secretary, 10 years after the issuance of the revised rule and every 10 years thereafter, to review and revise such ballast water performance standard if the revision would result in a scientifically demonstrable and substantial reduction in the risk of the introduction or establishment of aquatic nuisance species. Authorizes the Secretary to include in such decennial review best management practices for discharges other than ballast water. Requires the Secretary to revise such practices if the revision would substantially reduce the impacts on navigable waters of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel other than ballast water. Prohibits manufacturers of ballast water treatment technology from selling, introducing, delivering for interstate commerce, or importing such technology for sale unless it has been certified under this Act. Sets forth a certification process. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a ballast water treatment technology if it uses a biocide or generates a biocide: (1) that is a pesticide, unless the biocide is registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) or the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has approved the use of the biocide in such technology; or (2) the discharge of which causes or contributes to a violation of a water quality standard under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act.) Prohibits, with exceptions, the use of a ballast water treatment technology by an owner or operator of a vessel unless it has been certified by the Secretary. Sets forth exemptions from permit requirements, prohibitions of any other law, and discharge standards under this Act for specified discharges and vessels. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations establishing alternative programs for compliance with ballast water discharge regulations for specified vessels. Directs the Administrator to promulgate standards for: (1) the reception of ballast water from a vessel into a reception facility, and (2) the disposal or treatment of such ballast water. Establishes this Act as the exclusive statutory authority for federal regulation of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel to which this Act applies.

Vessel Incidental Discharge Act

Sen. Mark Begich [D-AK]	Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R-NH]	Sen. Roy Blunt [R-MO]	Sen. John Boozman [R-AR]
Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA]	Sen. Saxby Chambliss [R-GA]	Sen. Thad Cochran [R-MS]	Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]
Sen. Christopher Coons [D-DE]	Sen. Lindsey Graham [R-SC]	Sen. Kay Hagan [D-NC]	Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
Sen. Johnny Isakson [R-GA]	Sen. Angus King [I-ME]	Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-LA]	Sen. Joe Manchin [D-WV]
Sen. Edward Markey [D-MA]	Sen. Claire McCaskill [D-MO]	Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]	Sen. Bill Nelson [D-FL]
Sen. Mark Pryor [D-AR]	Sen. John Rockefeller [D-WV]	Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]	Sen. Brian Schatz [D-HI]
Sen. Jeff Sessions [R-AL]	Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH]	Sen. Richard Shelby [R-AL]	Sen. John Thune [R-SD]
Sen. Pat Toomey [R-PA]	Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]	Sen. Mark Warner [D-VA]	Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA]
Sen. Roger Wicker [R-MS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2014-12-10	Senate	By Senator Rockefeller from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 113-304.
2014-12-08	Senate	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 620.
2014-12-08	Senate	Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
2014-09-18	Senate	S.AMDT.3903 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2014-07-23	Senate	Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
2014-07-21	Senate	S.AMDT.3572 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.To make the ballast water discharge performance standard more consistent with certain other definitions.
2014-07-21	Senate	S.AMDT.3571 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.To modify the revised ballast water performance standard.
2014-07-21	Senate	S.AMDT.3570 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.To provide a more reasonable period for ballast water treatment equipment to be tested after the testing protocols are issued.
2014-03-06	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

HB5609 (Related) 2014-09-19 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2094/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2094/BILLS-113s2094is.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s2094/BILLS-113s2094rs.pdf