[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]


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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.

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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]
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