[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 29287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11129]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0368]


Practicability Review: Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' 
Ballast Water Discharged in United States Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of its 
Practicability Review conducted for the purpose of determining whether 
technology to comply with a performance standard more stringent than 
that required by the Coast Guard's current regulations on Ballast Water 
Discharges can be practicably implemented and whether testing protocols 
that can assure accurate measurement of compliance with a more 
stringent performance standard can be practicably implemented. Coast 
Guard ballast water regulations require the Coast Guard to undertake 
and publish the results of its Practicability Review. In the 
Practicability Review, we conclude that, at this time, technology to 
achieve a significant improvement in ballast water treatment efficacy 
onboard vessels cannot be practicably implemented. The reason for this 
determination is that, as of the date of completion of the 
Practicability Review, there are no data demonstrating that ballast 
water management systems can meet a discharge standard more stringent 
than the existing performance standards. In light of this 
determination, the Coast Guard has not evaluated whether testing 
protocols exist which can accurately measure efficacy of treatment 
against a performance standard more stringent than the existing 
performance standards.

DATES: The Practicability Review is available on May 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The Practicability Review is available at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/ballastwater under Regulations and Policy Documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call CDR Meridena Kauffman, Chief, Environmental Standards Division 
(CG-OES-3), Coast Guard, telephone 202--372-1430, email 
[email protected].

    Dated: May 5, 2016.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2016-11129 Filed 5-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P