MarineNews-2017-02

T

he long delayed Small Vessel General Permit

(sVGP) legislation is scheduled to come into force

on December 18, 2017. Despite some confusion

and inconsistencies on this issue generally, there is cur-

rently no serious effort to delay the sVGP requirement.

Thus, vessel owners should be preparing now for compli-

ance. Although the deadline is still months away, the com-

placency that permeates the Vessel General Permit (VGP)

issue, the related ballast water management requirements

and the proposed Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA)

can easily distract vessel owners from taking timely action.

Those owners that remain vigilant will be able to com-

ply with non-ballast water sVGP requirements without

signifi cant diffi culty, but those owners that do not act ju-

diciously and rely on the passage of VIDA to alleviate this

“headache” may fi nd themselves scrambling to avoid vessel

delays and potentially fi nes and other penalties.

The Long Reach of EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fi rst is-

sued the VGP requirement back in 2008 and subsequently

reissued it in 2013. The VGP provides for National Pol-

lutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit

coverage for incidental discharges into waters of the US

from commercial (non-military and non-recreational)

vessels greater than 79 feet in length and for ballast wa-

The Looming

sVGP

Deadline

The sVGP and recent ballast water treatment system approvals create

another headache for small vessel owners. Steve Candito provides a primer.

By Steve Candito

SPECIAL REPORT

Credit: Alexander Maksimenko

28 MN February 2017