EPA Agrees to Issue Standards for Protecting U.S. Waters From Ship Pollution, Invasive Species

EPA Agrees to Finalize Nationwide Standards for Vessel Discharges

WASHINGTON— The Environmental Protection Agency agreed today to finalize nationwide standards that will protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges. Under the agreement, the agency must release final regulations on ballast water discharges by Sept. 24, 2024.

Protecting Ocean Ecosystems and Public Health

“I’m glad the EPA will take action after years of delay, and I hope the agency finally cracks down on ships that dump water with pathogens and invasive species,” said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This agreement is an overdue victory for our ocean ecosystems and public health, which have been plagued for years by weak rules on ballast water dumping.”

Lawsuit Leads to Agreement

Today’s agreement is the result of a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth, represented by Stanford Law Clinic, against the agency for failing to finalize standards. The agreement must undergo public review and comment and then be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Threats Posed by Vessel Ballast Water Discharges

Discharges of vessel ballast water originating thousands of miles away can carry invasive species, pathogens and pollutants. These can contaminate waters and threaten ecosystems, public health and economies.

Protecting Waters for Future Generations

“For decades, polluted vessel discharges have threatened the health of our waterways and all who depend on them, and their harm continues to grow,” said Marcie Keever, director of oceans and vessels at Friends of the Earth. “By holding the shipping industry to new and improved standards, EPA is finally taking a long-needed step toward protecting and preserving our waters for generations to come.”

Impact on Communities and Native Organisms

Vessel pollution has spread harmful zebra mussels, coral diseases and even human pathogens. Communities with unreliable water treatment systems, including low-wealth and environmental justice communities, may be at heightened risk from introduced human pathogens.

The Process of Ballast Water Discharges

To improve stability, ships take up ballast water at their origins, and this water contains animals, plants and other organisms. The vessels carry that water to their destinations, where it is released and the foreign species are let out into the aquatic ecosystems. Some of these now-invasive species threaten native organisms and water quality.

Continued Advocacy for Robust Standards

“The Stanford Environmental Law Clinic is pleased that EPA has agreed to enter this consent decree. Moving forward, however, it is just the first step,” said Matthew Sanders, the acting deputy director of the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, part of the Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School. “Alongside and on behalf of our clients the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth, we will continue to press EPA to satisfy its legal duty to issue robust standards for vessel incidental discharges.”

Ending EPA’s History of Neglect

The new standards will end the EPA’s track record of ignoring vessel pollution. Courts have rejected the EPA’s inadequate vessel discharge standards in the past, and Congress required the agency to establish new vessel discharge standards, including standards to control ballast water pollution, by Dec. 4, 2020.

Delays Under the Biden Administration

Under the Biden administration, the EPA repeatedly postponed the release of its final standards. In fall 2020 the agency projected that the final standards would be published in March 2021, but then said it would take nearly the entire four years of Biden’s first term.

Call for Action from Congress and Environmental Organizations

In June 2022, 34 members of Congress asked EPA Administrator Michael Regan to end the agency’s 50-year failure to comply with the Clean Water Act and finally issue the ballast water discharge standards required by the Act. In November 2022, 180 environmental organizations, public health organizations, commercial- and sport-fishing organizations and Native American tribes asked President Biden to order EPA to finally follow the law on ballast water discharges. The Biden administration did not respond to either letter.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the need for regulations to protect U.S. waterways from harmful vessel discharges, which is directly related to SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The presence of invasive species, pathogens, and pollutants in ballast water discharges also threatens ecosystems and public health, connecting to SDG 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. Additionally, the introduction of invasive species through ballast water discharges can harm native organisms and water quality, aligning with SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
• Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
• Target 15.8: Prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.

The article highlights the need for regulations to address vessel discharges that carry invasive species, pathogens, and pollutants, which directly relates to Target 6.3 under SDG 6. The aim is to reduce pollution and eliminate dumping of harmful substances into waterways. The presence of invasive species in ballast water discharges also poses a threat to marine and coastal ecosystems, aligning with Target 14.2 under SDG 14. Lastly, the introduction of invasive species through ballast water discharges can harm native organisms and water ecosystems, connecting to Target 15.8 under SDG 15.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
• Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
• Indicator 15.8.1: Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species.

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using the indicators mentioned above. These indicators provide a quantitative way to assess progress towards improving water quality, managing marine ecosystems, and preventing the introduction of invasive species.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: biologicaldiversity.org

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