Legislation introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would extend a moratorium exempting fishing vessels and vessels under 79 feet from incidental discharge permitting requirements mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
These vessels have been continuously exempt since 2008 under a temporary moratorium, as they do not pose a serious environmental risk, said Cantwell, sponsored S.2194, the Fishing and Small Vessel Relief Act.
The current moratorium expires on Dec. 18.
More than 115,000 small vessels nationwide would receive relief under this legislation. While commercial fishing boats make up the bulk of the protected vessels, the legislation would also cover many research vessels, tour boats, tugboats, towboats and offshore supply boats.
The EPA’s vessel incidental discharge permitting requirements are intended to prevent water pollution and the spread of invasive species through release of bilge water, ballast and other discharges. While these regulations are critical to protect the environment from larger vessels more likely to carry pollutants and more likely to introduce invasive species, vessel discharge from smaller vessels does not pose a serious environmental risk, Cantwell said.
