The aforementioned rule will protect US waters and will reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. The related rule will align the current patchwork of federal, state and other local requirements that apply to commercial vessels.

VIDA will apply in waters of the United States, including inland waters, and waters of the contiguous zone, extending out 12 miles from shore. This is similar to existing USCG ballast water regulations.

VIDA requires that the discharge standards be technology-based and in the form of numeric effluent limits, best management practices or a combination of both. VIDA additionally specifies that, with limited exceptions, the new standards must be at least as stringent as the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP).

The VIDA applies to following vessels:                                           

-Commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length

-Other non-recreational, non-Armed Forces vessels, such as research and emergency rescue vessels and

-Ballast water only from small vessels (vessels less than 79 feet in length) and fishing vessels of all sizes.

VIDA requirements will apply once both EPA’s Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance are finalized and the new USCG implementing regulations required under the VIDA are final, effective and enforceable.

Until the USCG regulations are final, effective, and enforceable, ships are subject to the existing discharge requirements established in EPA’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) and the USCG’s ballast water regulations, as well as any other applicable state and local government requirements.

More specific, the same notices of intent (NOIs), notices of termination (NOTs), and annual reports that were required under the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) are still required.

Source: www.epa.gov

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