Vessel General Permit and Ballast Water Resources
Vessel Air Emissions • Ballast Water • Oil Spill Response Plans • EPA Vessel General Permit Regulations • Explanatory Materials • Industry Guidance • Legal Challenges to the Vessel General Permit • Legislation • Other Legal Materials • Clean Water Act Ballast Water Litigation • Ballast Water Technical Documents • K&L Gates Alerts • For More Information

  Vessel Air Emissions

Regulatory Action

• EPA Proposed Rule - Emissions Control from Category 3 Engines (08-28-09)
  
  
• Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis (June 2009)

Ballast Water

Regulatory Action

• U.S. Coast Guard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Ballast Water Management (08-28-09)
  
  
• U.S. Coast Guard Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Ballast Water Management Proposed Rule (08-28-09)

Oil Spill Response Plans

Regulatory Action

• U.S. Coast Guard Proposed Rule - Nontank Vessel Oil Spill Response Plans (August 31, 2009)
  
  
• U.S. Coast Guard Final Rule - Oil Spill Response Plans for Vessels and Marine-Transportation Facilities (August 31, 2009)

EPA Vessel General Permit Regulations

Final Rule

• EPA Notice of Removal of CA, NJ and IL conditions from Final Rule
  
  
• EPA Revised Final Vessel General Permit; February 5, 2009 Version
  
  
• EPA Notice of Final Vessel General Permit Issuance for Alaska and Hawaii
  
  
• EPA Final Vessel General Permit Announcement; December 18, 2008
  
  
• Federal Register Notice
  
  
• Final Vessel General Permit  (2 MB)
  
  
• Final Vessel General Permit Fact Sheet
  
  
• District Court Order Setting February 6, 2009 Deadline for Expiration of Exemption
  
  
• Final Economic Analysis  (2 MB)
  
  
• EPA Response to Comments  (4 MB)
  
  
• EPA Guidance on Developing Best Management Practices
  
  
• Best Management Practices Cases
  
  
  • Lindsey Estates LLC
    
    
  • M&T Development, Inc.
    
    
  • Natural Resources Defense Council v. Southwest Marine, Inc.
    
    
  • Norvern LLC

Draft Rule

• Federal Register Notice
  
  
• EPA Notice of Publication of Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) General Permits for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of a Vessel
  
  
• NPDES Proposed Vehicle GENERAL PERMIT for Commercial Vessels
  
  
• NPDES Vessel General Permit for Commercial Vessels Fact Sheet
  
  
• NPDES Proposed Recreational Vessel GENERAL PERMIT
  
  
• NPDES Recreational Vessel Fact Sheet
  
  
• Economic Analysis Supporting the Vessel General Permit
  
  
• Technical Support for EPA Development of a Permitting Framework to Address the Vacatur of the NPDES Vessel Exclusion (Technical report supporting proposed rule)
  
  
• Chamber of Shipping of America/Intertanko Comments on NPDES Discharge Permits

State 401 Certification Documents

• Alabama 
  
  
• Bishop Tribal Council 
  
  
• California
  
  
  • Modification to California's Water Certification
    
    
  • Attachments to California's Water Certification Modification
    
    
  • Foss Letter in Support of California Deletions
    
    
• Colorado 
  
  
• Connecticut
  
  
• Connecticut Graywater
  
  
• Florida 
  
  
• Georgia
  
  
• Guam
  
  
• Hawaii
  
  
  • Hawaii Final Certification with Conditions
    
    
  • Hawaii Notice
    
    
  • Hawaii Evaluation
    
    
• Hualapai Tribes
  
  
• Idaho 
  
  
• Illinois 
  
  
  • Public Notice/Fact Sheet
    
    
  • EPA Response to Illinois Modification
    
    
• Indiana 
  
  
• Iowa 
  
  
• Kansas
  
  
• Louisiana
  
  
• Maine 
  
  
• Massachusetts 
  
  
• Michigan 
  
  
  • Michigan Certification Challenge
    
    
• Minnesota 
  
  
  • Minnesota Certification Challenge
    
    
  • Submission from National Wildlife Federation's Senior Counsel Regarding Vacation
    
    
  • State of Minnesota's Memo of Law Opposing Motion to Waive Requirement to Render Decision within 90 Days (06/09/09)
    
• Missouri 
  
  
• Montana 
  
  
• Nebraska 
  
  
• Nevada
  
  
• New Hampshire
  
  
• New Jersey
  
  
  • EPA Response to New Jersey Granting Graywater Modifications
    
    
  • New Jersey Response to EPA re: Graywater Discharges
    
    
  • EPA Response to New Jersey Certification re: Graywater Discharges
    
    
  • Letter Regarding Greywater Discharges
    
    
• New Mexico
  
  
• New York
  
  
  • Adams Affidavit in Support of NYSDEC
    
    
  • Adriance Affidavit in Support of NYSDEC
    
    
  • Stoner Affidavit in Support of NYSDEC
    
    
  • NYSDEC's Cover Letter
    
    
  • NYSDEC's Memo of Law
    
    
  • NYSDEC Answer
    
    
  • Port of Oswego v. Grannis – LCA's Notice of Unopposed Motion to Intervene (10 MB)
    
    
  • Port of Oswego v. Grannis – LCA's Affidavit of Service for Unopposed Motion to Intervene
    
    
  • Port of Oswego v. Grannis – LCA's Memorandum in Support of Unopposed Motion to Intervene
    
    
  • Port of Oswego v. Grannis – LCA's Proposed Order for Unopposed Motion to Intervene
    
    
  • New York Certification Challenge
    
    
  • Memorandum of Law for New York
    
    
• Ohio 
  
  
• Oklahoma
  
  
• Oregon
  
  
• Pennsylvania
  
  
• Pueblo of Sandia
  
  
• Rhode Island
  
  
• Taos Pueblo
  
  
• Tennessee 
  
  
• Texas
  
  
• Utah 
  
  
• Vermont 
  
  
• Wisconsin
  
  
  • Wisconsin Certification Challenge
    
    
• Wyoming

Explanatory Materials

• CMA Conference Materials (March 25, 2009)
  
  
  • Presentation to CMA: What to Expect in Environmental Enforcement? The New VGP Permit
    
    
  • Final Vessel General Permit
    
    
  • Final Vessel General Permit Fact Sheet
    
    
  • Battelle Report
    
    
  • Portions of Indictment: US v. John Cota and Fleet Management
    
    
  • Presentation on Draft Vessel Discharge Permit (July 2008)
    
    
• Presentation Materials: Presentation to Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention; March 19, 2009
  
  
• Event Webcast: EPA Webcast Archive — Key Elements of the Newly Issued NPDES Vessel General Permit (VGP) (February 5, 2009)
  
  
• Event Documents: EPA Presentation Slides — Key Elements of the Newly Issued NPDES VGP; February 5, 2009
  
  
• Event: EPA Webcast on Vessel Discharge Permits; February 5, 2009
  
  
• Webinar: Town Hall Meeting on EPA's Final Vessel Discharge Rules; January 12, 2009
  
  
• Webinar: Vessel Discharge Permits — A New Reality for the Maritime World
  
  
• Webinar: July 22, 2008 Proposed Vessel Discharge Webcast 
  
  
• Presentation Materials: United States Environmental Law and Regulation Affecting the Maritime Industry

Industry Guidance

• American Waterways Operators Best Management Practices Manual
  
  
• Intertanko Guidance and Compliance Plan
  
  
• Marshall Islands Marine Guideline
  
  
• PVA Manual for Compliance with EPA VGP

Legal Challenges to the Vessel General Permit

Orders Consolidating all Appeals in DC Circuit

• NWF v EPA (6th Cir)
  
  
• AWO v EPA (DC Cir)
  
  
• LCA v EPA (DC Cir)
  
  
• Michigan v EPA (6th Cir)
  
  
• NEA v EPA (9th Cir)
  
  
• NRDC v EPA (2nd Cir)

Lake Carriers' Association v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Joint Status Report & Joint Motion to Continue Existing Stay of Proceedings (06/12/09)
  
  
• EPA's Response to Lake Carriers' Association's "Response" to NWEA's Motion (3/4/09)
  
  
• Joint Status Report and Motion to Modify Existing Stay
  
  
• LCA's Response to the Motion of NWEA for Leave to Intervene as Respondents (2/24/09)
  
  
• Nutech O3 Motion for Amicus Curiae (2/19/09)
  
  
• Consolidation Order on Multidistrict Litigation (2/19/09)
  
  
• Motion to Intervene in the DC Circuit (2/17/09)
  
  
• Motion to Strike Notice to Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (2/16/09)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of Motion to Strike Notice to Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (2/16/09)  (7 MB)
  
  
• Corporate Disclosure Statement (2/16/09)
  
  
• Letter to Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (2/13/09)
  
  
• Notice to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation of MultiCircuit Petitions for Review (2/11/09)
  
  
• Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings (02/05/09)
  
  
• Letter to Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (1/26/09)
  
  
• Petition for Review (1/12/09)
  
  
• Petition for Review (1/05/09)

Northwest Environmental Advocates v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration (04-08-09)
  
  
• EPA's Consolidated Opposition to NWEA's "Motion to Reconsider" the Panel's February 19, 2009 Consolidation Order (3/4/09)
  
  
• Petition for Review (1/12/09)

Natural Resources Defense Council v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Joint Motion to Stay (2/18/09)
  
  
• Petition for Review (1/16/09)

American Waterways Operators v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Petition for Review (04-03-09)
  
  
• Rule 26.1 Disclosure Statement (04-03-09)

Legislation

• P. L. No. 110-299 (formerly S. 2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008)
  
  
• P.L. No. 110-288 (formerly S. 3298)
  
  
• Senate bill 2645
  
  
• Senate bill 1578
  
  
• Senate bill 1578 -- Report and Amendment
  
  
• AG letter opposing S-1578
  
  
• Boxer amendment on S-1578
  
  
• CRS Report for Congress — Ballast Water Management
  
  
• Lloyd's List Ballast Water article re: US Legislation
  
  
• H.R. 5594
  
  
• H.R. 2830
  
  
• House Hearing on Discharges Incident to the Normal Operation of a Ship — Ballast Water Coalition Testimony June 12, 2008

Other Legal Materials

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy v. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Challenge to State Disposal System Permit)

• Writ of Certiorari (10/22/08)
  
  
• Petition for Writ of Certiorari (10/22/08)

Michigan Constitutional Challenge

• 6th Circuit Court Opinion and Order (11/08)
  
  
• District Court Opinion and Order (8/07)

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy v. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Challenge to NPDES Permit)

• District Court Opinion and Order (10/08)
  
  
• District Court Opinion and Order (4/08)
  
  
• Complaint by Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy  (1.8 MB)
  
  
• MN Ruling Requiring NPDES Permits for Ballast Water Discharges in Lake Superior

National Wildlife Federation v. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

• Order Denying Lake Carriers' Association Motion to Intervene in Claim of Appeal from Certification of Vessel General Permit (06/09/09)

Clean Water Act Ballast Water Litigation

• 9th Circuit Court Affirming
  
  
  • Ninth Circuit Argument  (7.2 MB Windows Media audio file)
    
    
• District Court Opinion  (1.3 MB)
  
  
• EPA Opening Brief  (4.9 MB)
  
  
• NW Environmental Advocates Opening Brief
  
  
• Shipping Industry Ballast Water Coalition Opening Brief  (2.9 MB)
  
  
• Answering Brief for New York
  
  
• Amicus Curiae Brief  (1.4 MB)
  
  
• EPA Reply Brief  (3.6 MB)
  
  
• Shipping Industry Coalition Reply Brief  (2.7 MB)
  
  
• NW Environmental Advocates Reply Brief  (1.5 MB)

Ballast Water Technical Documents

• Ballast Water Treatment Technology, June 2000 (Lloyd’s Register)
  
  
• Critical Review of Ballast Water Biocides Treatment Demonstration Project (9/02)
  
  
• June 2007 Study of Effects of Salt Water Flushing on Ballast Water  (2.2 MB)
  
  
• NOAA – Current State of Understanding about the Effectiveness of Ballast Water Exchange (9/07)  (4.5 MB)
  
  
• Code of Best Practices
  
  
• Seaway Handbook (3.9 MB)
  
  
• Link to U.S. Coast Guard Ballast Water page
  
  
  • Coast Guard 2009 Unified Agenda - Ballast Water NPRM
    
    
• Link to St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation Ballast Water page
  
  
• Status of the Ballast Water Discharge Standard Rulemaking
  
  
• Canadian Ballast Water Regulations
  
  
• Ballast Discharge - EPA Notice
  
  
• St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  
  
• Coast Guard - Ballast Water Management for Vessels Entering the Great Lakes that Declare No Ballast Onboard
  

K&L Gates Alerts

• Alert: The Perfect Storm: Ballast Water Discharges Face New Regulatory, Legislative and Judicial Rules (September 2007)
  
  
• Alert: Ninth Circuit Holds that California Marine Vessel Rules are Preempted by Federal Clean Air Act (March 2008)
  
  
• Alert: US Laws Affecting Maritime Industry (April 2008)
  
  
• Alert: Supreme Court Allows But Limits Punitive Damages in Maritime Cases (June 2008)
  
  
• Alert: California Board Issues Draft Clean Fuel Rules for Oceangoing vessels (June 2008)
  
  
• Alert: Global Limits Set on Vessel Air Emissions (October 2008)
  
  
• Alert: California Adopts New Rules for Ocean Going Vessels (July 2008)
  
  
• Alert: Congress Passes New Legislation to Curb Shipping Pollution (July 2008)

For More Information

Please contact: 

• Barry Hartman
• Mark Ruge
• Christopher Nestor
• Susan Geiger
• Akilah Green
• Chris Tate