ballast preview email

DETP/19/34193

''Monday, July 29, 2019 at 11:26:55 AM (GMT+07:00) Goldstein, Meyer:'' Rule Caption: Ballast Water Management Rules Adm. Order No.: DEQ 4-2017 Filed with Sec. of State: 1-19-2017 Certified to be Effective: 3-1-17 Notice Publication Date: 5-1-2016 Rules Amended: 340-143-0005, 340-143-0010, 340-143-0050 Subject: The amended rules establish greater protection for Oregon water resources and aquatic ecosystems in two ways. First, the rules close a management gap associated with residual ballast water and sediments in empty ballast tanks that represents a risk for introducing aquatic invasive species when vessel operators must ballast and subsequently de-ballast from empty ballast tanks while in state waters. The proposed rule requires vessel operators to conduct a midocean saltwater flush of empty ballast tanks that they want to use for ballasting and subsequent de-ballasting while in port. Second, the rules address concerns that recent federal regulatory changes will replace a strategy that has proven to be highly protective for low-salinity ports, like those in Oregon, with reliance upon first generation shipboard treatment technologies that, under some circumstances, could be less protective of Oregon ports. Under current state rules, vessel operators are no longer required to conduct ballast water exchange practices following implementation of federal discharge standards that generally require use of new shipboard treatment technology. The proposed rule would retain ballast water exchange requirements for a subset of vessel arrivals that represent a high-risk for introducing Aquatic Invasive Species to Oregon, in addition to meeting federal treatment requirements, for high-risk voyages that have sourced ballast from low-salinity environments. Retaining ballast exchange for high-risk voyages will serve as an important interim strategy to protect Oregon’s low-salinity ports during a significant transition that depends upon the reliability of new technologies that have lacked rigorous testing. As proposed, EQC would repeal the rule after seven years unless DEQ and the EQC determine that technology reliability and efficacy of federal shipboard treatment policies remain inadequate.