Small commercial boats will soon face new discharge requirements

Small commercial vessels around the country could soon be subject to new federal permit requirements for discharges that occur during normal operations.

The Small vessel General Permit will take effect for commercial vessels less than 79 feet on December the 19^th.

The permit will require that small commercial vessels meet discharge requirements set under the federal clean water act.

The discharges covered in the permit include general discharges, fuel management, engine and oil control, solid and liquid waste management, deck washdown and runoff and above water line hull cleaning.

It also includes vessel hull maintenance, graywater, fish hold effluent, ballast water, and overboard cooling water discharges.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the industry-wide cost of compliance will be $16.9 million dollars not taking into account costs related to enforcement.

Commercial Boats larger than 79 feet have been required to have the permit since 2008, but smaller boats were exempt under a moratorium set by congress.

That moratorium ends on December the 18^th.

Examples of vessels that are covered under the new permitting requirement include charter fishing vessels subject to Coast Guard inspection carrying 12 paying passengers or more, purpose built vessels manufactured for non-recreational purposes such as a steel hull towboats or aluminum hull crew boats as well as small utility vessels manufactured for barge transport and commercial fishing vessels.

It’s estimated that 138,000 vessels around the country will have to significantly change their operations to ensure compliance with the Small vessel General Permit by December 19^th.

Owners and operators can review the permit and related information on the Environmental protection Agency website.

http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/npdes/vessels/Vessels-Background.cfm.

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