The 2008 Vessel General Permit (VGP) regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels operating in a capacity as a means of transportation. Due to a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, vessel owners and operators who have previously been exempt from Clean Water Act requirements for the last 35 years will now require a permit starting Dec. 19. The ruling revoked 40 CFR 122.3(a)) which concerns the exclusion of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel as of February 6, 2009. The VGP covers non-recreational vessels 79 ft in length or longer, such as cruise ships or oil and cargo tankers, but excludes fishing vessels of any length, unless they discharge ballast water. The VGP incorporates the Coast Guard's mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and provides technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges, including deck runoff from rain or cleaning, ballast water used to stabilize ships and "gray water" from showers, sinks and laundry machines. It also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The Vessels Electronic Notice of Intent (eNOI) system will be available in late Spring 2009. No vessel owner/operator is required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) until June 19, 2009. more info...