Nina Bell, Executive Director of Northwest Environmental Advocates, talks about the recent decision by the EPA to issue a national vessel discharge permit ten years after envrionmental groups requested action.
Starting about two weeks ago ships discharging pollution, most notably invasive species, into the nation’s waters were for the first time required to comply with a Clean Water Act permit. The permit was issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It comes nearly ten years after environmental organizations petitioned EPA to reverse a regulation shielding ships from the permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act. EPA denied the petition but the groups went to court and ultimately won.
Despite the significance of this regulatory action, the organizations that led the battle are displeased with the EPA permit. Nina Bell will explain why.