Welcome to the Pacific Ballast Water Group WebsiteRecent NewsEnvironmental Standards Update, US Coast Guard (July 2008) EPA Proposes Vessel Discharge Permits (June 16, 2008) RBT Signs Deal with Wilhelmsen Maritime Services on Ballast Water Treatment System (June 2008) USCG and EPA release domestic ballast water management initiative (April 2008) Environmental Standards Update, US Coast Guard (February 2008) EPA Seeks Comments on its Draft Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report (December 20, 2007) Great Ships Initiative – Ballast Water Treatment Technology Project (October 2007) Canada to Beef up Ballast Water Enforcement (October 2007) EPA Considers How to Develop Vessel Discharge Permit Program (June 2007) Environmental Standards Update, US Coast Guard (April 2007) Environmental Standards Update, US Coast Guard (February 2007) New Ballast Regulations Could Hurt Michigan and the Shipping Industry (January 5, 2007) IntroductionCornell University ecologist David Pimentel estimates that invasive species cost the U.S. more than $122 billion annually. A report by the Environmental Defense Fund shows that roughly 400 of the 958 species listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Interior Department are at risk from invasive species. Studies have shown that many species of bacteria, plants and animals can survive in ballast water and sediment carried on ships. The discharge of ballast water is a major pathway for the transfer of potentially harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens around the world. The Pacific Ballast Water Group (PBWG) was formed by representatives from the shipping industry, state and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and others who recognized the need for a cooperative and coordinated regional approach to solving the problem. Shipping is an international industry. Conflicting port or state regulations can create a complicated set of rules that make compliance difficult. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the federal government, the shipping industry and the ports advocate that a consistent international or national approach is more preferable than local approaches, and will avoid the regulatory confusion and competition issues that may occur under a "patch work" regulatory approach. However, it is generally recognized that international and national efforts are ponderously slow in development and current programs do not adequately address the problem. The significant and mounting damages and costs associated with aquatic nuisance species have prompted increasing activity at the international, national, regional, state and local levels to regulate ballast water. Focused and effective action is needed to prevent further damage to coastal environments and economies, while minimizing regulatory complexity, shifts in competitive advantage, and economic impacts to the shipping industry. |