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On December 20, 2007, EPA published in the
Federal Register a notice (PDF) (3 pp, 58K) of availability and request for public comment on the
Draft Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report (Draft Report). As such, EPA has initiated a 45-day public
comment period seeking input on the Draft Report, as well as input on options, alternatives, and recommendations on whether and how to better
control and regulate the waste streams assessed in the Draft Report. EPA granted a one-time 15 day extension to submit
comments on the Draft Report until February 19, 2008. EPA prepared the Draft Report as part of its response to a petition submitted by
the Bluewater Network on behalf of a number of environmental advocacy organizations. The Draft Report assesses the waste streams of sewage,
graywater, oily bilge water, solid waste, and hazardous waste. For each waste stream the Draft Report discusses the nature and volume of the waste
stream generated; existing federal regulations applicable to the waste stream; environmental management, including treatment, of the waste stream; potential
adverse environmental impacts of the waste stream; and actions by the federal government to address the waste stream.
EPA’s full response to the petition (PDF)
(9 pp, 644K) from the Bluewater Network was signed by EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water on January 31, 2008
Background
On March 17, 2000, the EPA Administrator received a petition from the Bluewater
Network (PDF) (11 pp, 1.7MB) on behalf of 53 organizations asking the Agency to assess, and where necessary control,
cruise ship discharges. On August 2, 2000, the Bluewater Network submitted an
addendum to their petition (PDF) (3 pp, 284K) requesting that EPA also examine and make recommendations on how to
address air pollution from cruise ships, both from engine emissions and from shipboard incinerators.
EPA also received a resolution (PDF)
(4 pp, 773K) by the Central Council of The Tlingit-Haida Tribes of Alaska requesting federal action to control cruise ship
discharges. In addition, over 250 postcards from private individuals and several e-mail messages were sent to EPA asking for actions to stop pollution
from cruise ships.
EPA’s Cruise Ship White Paper (PDF)
(19 pp, 60K) provides some preliminary background information and recommendations regarding EPA’s assessment of
cruise ship discharges.
If you have problems accessing these scanned documents, please send an e-mail to cruise.ships@epa.gov or
you may contact Elizabeth Kim (kim.elizabeth@epa.gov) or (202) 566-1270.
Cruise Ship Discharges home
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