[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73438-73439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24778]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 139
[EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0482; FRL-10016-34-OW]
RIN 2040-AF92
Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance;
Public Meetings
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notification.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing three
virtual public meetings on its proposed rulemaking Vessel Incidental
Discharge National Standards of Performance. The proposed rulemaking
promulgated under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) of 2018
was published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2020. The three
virtual public meetings will be held in November 2020 to provide a
brief background on the rulemaking, identify key changes from existing
federal requirements, and describe how to submit comments on the
proposed rulemaking. More information on the proposed standards and the
directions for meeting proceedings are available on the EPA web page at
https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/vessel-incidental-discharge-act-vida-engagement-opportunities.
DATES: The Agency will hold virtual public meetings on November 9, 10,
and 17, 2020. Please refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
additional information on the public meetings.
ADDRESSES: EPA will be holding the public meetings virtually. Please
register for the public meetings through the following link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6377760488136984080.
Documents related to the proposal are available for public
inspection through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2019-0482.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliette Chausson, Water Division,
Environmental Protection Agency Region 9; telephone number: (415) 972-
3440; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published for
public comment a proposed rulemaking under the Vessel Incidental
Discharge Act (VIDA) that would establish national standards of
performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges
incidental to the normal operation of primarily non-military and non-
recreational vessels 79 feet in length and above into the waters of the
United States or the waters of the contiguous zone. The proposed
standards can be found in the Federal Register at 85 FR 67818, October
26, 2020. The proposed national standards of performance were developed
in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and in consultation
with interested Governors. The proposed standards, once finalized and
implemented through corresponding USCG regulations addressing
implementation, compliance, and enforcement, would reduce the discharge
of pollutants from vessels and streamline the current patchwork of
federal, state, and local vessel discharge requirements. Additionally,
EPA is proposing procedures for states to follow if they choose to
petition EPA to issue an emergency order, to review any standard of
performance, regulation, or policy, to request additional requirements
with respect to discharges in the Great Lakes, or to apply to EPA to
prohibit one or more types of vessel discharges proposed for regulation
in this rulemaking into specified waters to provide greater
environmental protection.
II. Meeting Information
EPA will be hosting three virtual public meetings on these proposed
standards to provide a brief background on the rulemaking, identify key
changes from existing federal requirements, and describe how to submit
comments on the proposed rulemaking to EPA.
Registration for the public meetings is available at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6377760488136984080. More information
on the proposed standards and the directions for meeting proceedings
are available on the EPA web page at https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/vessel-incidental-discharge-act-vida-engagement-opportunities.
The schedule for the virtual public meetings is as follows:
[[Page 73439]]
1. November 9, 2020, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
2. November 10, 2020, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST.
3. November 17, 2020, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
If you require special accommodations, please contact Juliette
Chausson at [email protected] or call (415) 972-3440 to make
arrangements.
John T. Goodin,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2020-24778 Filed 11-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P