Small commercial boats in the US get another three year exemption from federal Clean Water Act rules

It’s now official – small commercial boats in the US have another 3 year reprieve from having to meet federal environmental regulations for water discharges.

President Obama last week signed into law the "Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014" part of which allows commercial boats under 79 feet to continue to operate outside of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act rules regulating incidental water discharges.

Larger commercial Boats have been required to have the permit since 2008 – but congress has exempted smaller boats.

Without the exemption, small commercial vessels would be required to meet clean water act rules on water released during normal vessel operation which could include washing the deck or using onboard bathing facilities.

It’s estimated that nearly 140 thousand vessels around the country would have to significantly change their operations if the exemption were not in place.

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