The National Wildlife Federation has filed a lawsuit against New York state officials this week over regulations to rid ship ballast water of invasive species that threaten numerous bodies of water, including the Great Lakes and Long Island Sound, Maritime Executive reports.
The regulations were meant to require cargo ships to cleanse ballast water to a level at least 100 times stricter than Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, reports the Wall Street Journal. Environmental officials have stated that the EPA’s standards are insufficient in protecting against invasive species that could be introduced when ballast water is discharged prior to loading cargo.
In February, New York was to work for stronger national limits rather than continuing with the stricter requirements. Yesterday, the Department of Environmental Conservation stated that it requires measures that aren't part of the EPA or Coast Guard programs, such as requiring that ships from foreign ports have both onboard ballast water treatment and ballast water exchange in the open ocean.
Shipping companies are concerned that stronger rules for New York would virtually end international shipping in the Great Lakes, as all international cargo ships must pass through New York waters to reach the lakes. Port of New York and New Jersey traffic may also be affected.
The shipping industry insists that technology to meet such harsh requirements has not yet been developed.
In 2008, the EPA enforced a minimum standard of ballast water regulations for states in the Great Lakes region. New York imposed additional, stronger rules, scheduled to take effect in December 2013.
Statistics report that prevention and damage control from aquatic invasive species in the region costs more than $200 million a year.
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