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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
06/27/08
Contact: |
Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
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Senate Passes Maritime Pollution Prevention Act
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate approved H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act (MARPOL Annex VI) by unanimous consent late yesterday. Reported by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with an amendment sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), H.R. 802 would require the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prescribe regulations to implement vessel air emission standards and requirements that are outlined under Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention.
The MARPOL Convention is the global agreement to control pollution from ships. MARPOL Annex VI regulates the emission into the atmosphere of specified pollutants from ships.
“Today we take a significant step toward reducing air pollution from ships operating in United States waters,” said Senator Inouye. “Science tells us that air pollution knows no national boundaries. By taking an international approach to solving an international problem, we have found the best way to combat an issue that affects not only the United States, but the entire international community.”
As reported by the Senate, H.R. 802 would:
- Require the EPA to promulgate regulations to establish standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds and quality standards for vessel fuel oil in consultation with the Coast Guard.
- Require U.S.-flag vessels and foreign vessels that are operating in the territorial sea, in emission control areas, and in areas designated by the Administrator, in consultation with Coast Guard, to comply with vessel air emission regulations that are issued by the Coast Guard and the EPA. These requirements also would give the Coast Guard the authority to apply Annex VI to party and non-party vessels in the U.S. EEZ in the same manner as the other marine-related Annexes apply to non-party vessels.
- Ensure that the authority to enforce Annex VI would not restrict the freedom of navigation in a country’s EEZ, the right of passage through the territorial sea, or the right of transit passage though straits used for international navigation.
- Apply vessel air emission standards only to vessels with NOx marine engines rated above 130 kilowatts, or 175 horsepower.
- Prohibit any person other than the Administrator of the EPA from issuing an Engine International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate on behalf of the United States and require that such certificates are issued consistently with regulations and requirements under the Clean Air Act.
- Require each vessel greater than 400 gross tons and each offshore terminal to be issued an International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate to certify that the vessel’s or terminal’s equipment is in compliance with all applicable requirements under MARPOL Annex VI, and an Engine International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate to certify that each engine or engine group is in compliance with NOx standards.
- Require the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating or the EPA Administrator to prescribe regulations that require ports and terminals to provide or ensure the availability of adequate reception facilities for ozone depleting substances, equipment containing such substances, and exhaust cleaning residues. This section also would authorize the Coast Guard to deny a vessel entry into a port or terminal that, in the Coast Guard’s determination, is not in compliance with those regulations.
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18th - |
Senator Hutchison Calls for Improved Bus Safety Standards
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for improved safety of over-the-road buses and enhanced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing bus safety during a Senate Surface Transportation Subco...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for DTV Transition Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Full Committee hearing on Oversight of the DTV Transition: Countdown to February 2009, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. The full witness list is below.
With February 17, 2009 less than five months away, the Committee will assess the Federal Communication...
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18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade Imbalance Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the upcoming Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on The Imbalance in U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade, scheduled for September 24, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. A full witness list is below.
The hearing will examine the reasons for the imbalance in U.S.-Korea bilateral ...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Consumer Privacy Issues Related to Broadband Service Providers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing on Broadband Providers and Consumer Privacy, scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will examine broadband provider practices with respect to consumer privacy.
Broadband Providers and Consumer PrivacyFull CommitteeDate: Thursday, Septemb...
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16th - |
Senator Hutchison Commends Dept. of Commerce for Helping Nursing Homes with DTV Converter Box Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today commended the U.S. Department of Commerce and Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez for allowing residents with post office boxes and those living in nursing homes to participate in the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program. Previously, only residents with physical addresses could participate. This meant that those who ...
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16th - |
Inouye Calls for Immediate Passage of S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) delivered the following statement at today’s hearing on why broadband matters.
“In our hearing today we explore why broadband matters. Broadband matters because broadband communications have become the great economic engine of our time. Broadband deployment drives opportunities for business, education, ...
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16th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Bus Safety Hearing
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from Corporation for Public Broadcasting Nominees
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12th - |
Commerce Committee to Review Progress of DTV Transition with FCC, NTIA
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Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Releases MARAD Bill Financial Disclosure Certification
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today filed its report on S. 2997, the Maritime Administration Act for Fiscal Year 2009. In accordance with Senate Rule XLIV, the Committee provides the attached financial disclosure certification.
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11th - |
Commerce Committee Cancels Hearing to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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10th - |
Senator Hutchison Cosponsors Calling Card Legislation to Help Consumers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today signed on as a cosponsor to legislation that would assist consumers with pre-paid calling cards and ensure that fees and terms are easier to understand. The bill, S. 2998, would require pre-paid calling card providers and distributors to disclose the numbe...
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9th - |
Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
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Commerce Committee to Examine Marine Protected Areas
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Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Prepaid Calling Card Hearing
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