Regulation of ship pollution in the United States facts for kids
Ships sailing in waters near the United States must follow special rules to prevent pollution. Both the U.S. government and individual states have laws about what ships can release into the water. These rules help keep our oceans, lakes, and rivers clean and safe for everyone.
International Rules for Ships
One of the most important international agreements about ship pollution is called MARPOL 73/78. This treaty helps control different kinds of pollution from ships around the world. In the U.S., a law called the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) makes sure ships follow MARPOL rules. If a foreign ship pollutes U.S. waters, the U.S. can take action against it. If pollution happens outside U.S. waters, the U.S. works with the ship's home country to deal with it.
U.S. Laws for Ships
In the United States, many government groups work together on ship pollution. No single group handles everything. The Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) create most of the rules. The Department of Justice helps make sure these laws are followed. Other groups like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also have smaller roles.
Vessels General Permit
The EPA has a special permit called the Vessels General Permit (VGP). This permit is part of the Clean Water Act. It applies to large commercial ships (over 79 feet long) and controls 26 different types of things ships might release.
Some of the things the VGP regulates include:
- Water used to wash decks and clean the hull.
- Bilge water (water that collects in the bottom of a ship).
- Ballast water (water taken in to balance the ship).
- Foams used for fighting fires.
- Water from cooling systems.
- Graywater (water from sinks, showers, and laundry).
- Water from engine exhaust.
About 69,000 ships, both U.S. and foreign, follow the VGP rules. For smaller commercial ships, a different permit used to exist, but it was replaced in 2018. Now, smaller ships follow the VGP rules for ballast water, plus Coast Guard and state rules.
Vessel Incidental Discharge Act
In 2018, a new law called the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) was passed. This law asks the EPA to create even newer and stronger rules for what ships can discharge. Until these new rules are finished, the old EPA permits and Coast Guard rules are still in effect.
Sewage from Ships
Sewage from commercial ships (except fishing boats) is covered by the VGP. Smaller recreational boats don't need a permit, but their owners should still use good practices to control sewage.
Marine Sanitation Devices
The Clean Water Act says that ships cannot dump untreated sewage close to shore (within 3 miles). To prevent this, ships with toilets must have special equipment called marine sanitation devices (MSDs). MSDs either hold the sewage until it can be pumped out on land or treat it before it's released.
The Coast Guard checks that MSDs follow EPA rules. There are different types of MSDs:
- Type I MSDs: These use chemicals to clean the sewage. They are usually on smaller boats.
- Type II MSDs: These treat sewage using chemicals or biology. The treated water must meet certain cleanliness standards before being released.
- Type III MSDs: These simply store all the sewage in a tank. The sewage is then pumped out at a port or released far from shore.
Some people think the rules for MSDs could be better. For example, they mostly focus on bacteria and solids, but ships can release other harmful things like chemicals or oil. Also, ships don't have to test or report on their sewage discharges like other pollution sources do. The Coast Guard also has many jobs, and sometimes it's hard for them to check every ship for MSD compliance.
Some ships, especially those in Alaska, use advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) systems. These systems clean sewage even better than regular MSDs, removing more harmful substances.
No-Discharge Zones
Another way to stop sewage pollution is through "no-discharge zones" (NDZs). In these areas, ships cannot release any sewage, even if it's treated. States can ask the EPA to create these zones to protect important waters.
There are three main reasons a state can create an NDZ:
- For more environmental protection: The state must show there are enough places for ships to pump out their sewage on land. Many states have used this option.
- For special waters: This is for very important natural areas like shellfish beds or coral reefs. In these cases, the state doesn't need to show pumpout availability.
- For drinking water areas: This protects areas where cities get their drinking water.
State Graywater Rules
In Alaska, there's a state law that says graywater (water from sinks, showers, and laundry) must be treated before it's released into Alaskan waters.
Solid Waste from Ships
Rules for solid waste (garbage) from ships come from two main laws. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) makes it illegal to dump garbage from the U.S. into the ocean without a permit. It also stops dumping foreign garbage into U.S. waters.
The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) also has rules for garbage. It says ships cannot dump any garbage within 3 miles of shore. Certain types of garbage are banned within 12 miles, and plastic is banned everywhere. The Coast Guard checks that ports have places for ships to get rid of their garbage.
Hazardous Waste from Ships
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the main U.S. law for managing hazardous waste. This law controls dangerous waste from when it's created until it's safely disposed of. Hazardous waste can be things that are flammable, corrosive (can eat away at things), reactive, or toxic (poisonous).
Ships can create hazardous waste from things like maintenance or passenger services. This waste must be stored on board and then taken off the ship for recycling or safe disposal on land. The rules for ships can be a bit tricky, especially for smaller amounts of waste.
If a ship releases hazardous substances, it could also fall under another law called Superfund. Also, the Clean Water Act has rules against releasing harmful amounts of hazardous substances into U.S. waters.
Bilge Water
Bilge water is a mix of water, oil, and other liquids that collects in the lowest part of a ship. The Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 have rules against releasing harmful amounts of oil or hazardous substances into U.S. waters.
Coast Guard rules say that ships generally cannot release oil within 12 miles of shore unless it has passed through a special filter that removes most of the oil. Even then, it shouldn't cause a visible oily sheen on the water. Farther than 12 miles from shore, ships can release oily mixtures if the oil content is very low. Ships must also keep a record book of how they handle oily waste.
Ballast Water Rules
The VGP also sets limits on how much living organisms can be in ballast water when it's discharged. The Coast Guard and EPA worked together to create these rules. Ballast water can carry tiny plants and animals from one part of the world to another, which can harm local ecosystems.
Uniform National Discharge Standards for Military Ships
The Clean Water Act was changed in 1996 to create special rules for military ships. These are called Uniform National Discharge Standards (UNDS). The EPA and the Department of Defense (DOD) work together on these. These rules cover many types of discharges from ships belonging to the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force.
Enforcement
Rules are put in place to be followed. In 2021, a ship engineer was found responsible for illegally dumping oily bilge water and trying to hide it. The ship's operator also admitted to breaking the rules and had to pay a large fine of $1.65 million U.S. dollars. They were also ordered to create a plan to make sure they follow environmental rules better in the future.
