US Senate passes Annex VI bill
The US moved one step closer to passing enabling legislation for its enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI at the end of last week.
H.R.802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2007, was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate without a record of voting kept. The bill now awaits a meeting of Senate and House members to resolve minor differences in the two texts passed by each chamber.
The final step in the process is the presidential signature, at which point it becomes law.
The Act will make Annex VI provisions apply to ships in US ports and waters. It also includes enforcement provisions for the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the US Coast Guard, and allows the government to set up special emissions control areas.
Last week, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) urged the Senate to pass the bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives over a year ago.
Both groups were concerned that unless the US had Annex VI in law in time, it would not be able to participate as a full voting member for when revisions to the agreement are considered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in October.
"Senate action on implementing legislation will send an important message that the United States does not wish to sit on the sidelines and that we are committed to sound public policy that truly benefits the global environment," said CLIA president Terry Dale.
The passage of the legislation was today welcomed by the environmental group the Environmental Defense Fund.
"This action could be a sea change that ultimately helps steer us to cleaner, healthier air for the millions of Americans harmed by toxic air pollution from US and foreign-flagged ships," said Janea Scott, a senior attorney with the group.
H.R.802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2007, was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate without a record of voting kept. The bill now awaits a meeting of Senate and House members to resolve minor differences in the two texts passed by each chamber.
The final step in the process is the presidential signature, at which point it becomes law.
The Act will make Annex VI provisions apply to ships in US ports and waters. It also includes enforcement provisions for the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the US Coast Guard, and allows the government to set up special emissions control areas.
Last week, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) urged the Senate to pass the bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives over a year ago.
Both groups were concerned that unless the US had Annex VI in law in time, it would not be able to participate as a full voting member for when revisions to the agreement are considered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in October.
"Senate action on implementing legislation will send an important message that the United States does not wish to sit on the sidelines and that we are committed to sound public policy that truly benefits the global environment," said CLIA president Terry Dale.
The passage of the legislation was today welcomed by the environmental group the Environmental Defense Fund.
"This action could be a sea change that ultimately helps steer us to cleaner, healthier air for the millions of Americans harmed by toxic air pollution from US and foreign-flagged ships," said Janea Scott, a senior attorney with the group.