Committee Statement: Ballast Water / Coral Reef Threats

STATEMENT OF SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN
Senate Commerce Committee
Ballast Water / Coral Reef Threats
June 15, 2005, 9:30 a.m.
SR 253

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

I want to thank you for your leadership in scheduling this hearing regarding the impact of Ballast Water Invasive Species Management and Threats to Coral Reefs. This is an important environmental issue and one that can be remedied through innovative technology as we will be learning about today. Our role in this process, as members of this Committee, is to craft a regulatory environment that effectively deals with problems without hampering the innovation of the private sector. One of my constituents from Virginia, Mr. Joel Mandelman, will be speaking before this Committee later today. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his appearance and for the innovative work that his company Nutech is doing in its efforts to treat ballast water so the impact of invasive species on the environment can be controlled. Invasive species cause significant economic impact and are a major threat to public health and the environment. It is estimated that damage from these organisms causes over $6 billion in damages to the United States annually. The industries most affected include power plants, municipal water treatment systems, ships and fishing. In particular, the vitality of the shellfish industry is greatly impacted.

It is my understanding that Nutech has developed a treatment system for ballast water that both reduces the spread of invasive species and reduces operating costs for ship owners. This process involves treating ballast water with ozone gas to decontaminate the water. Ozone gas has been shown to be very effective in disinfecting drinking water, swimming pools and aquariums. Testing of ozone gas treatment aboard ships in Alaska in 2000 showed that this form of water treatment greatly reduced the number of unwanted organisms found in ballast water. I am told that this innovative technology works in both fresh and salt water because ozone gas quickly degrades and reverts back to oxygen. Therefore, ozone has the potential to fulfill the requirements that the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act (S. 363) places on the discharge of ballast water in the Great Lakes. This technology also speeds up the timeline for when ships can comply with the requirements set forth in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Treaty.

However, to encourage new technology that will improve our environment, any legislative approaches must be mindful of the needs of companies like Nutech to ensure they have the tools they need to successfully test and implement their technology. In September of this year, another test will be conducted where Nutech will install an advanced version of its technology on an oil tanker. Because of improvements in the technology, this version will cost 65 percent less than the equipment for the first test and will be able to be installed without taking the ship out-of-service.

According to the shipping industry, deep ocean ballast water exchanges cost a ship owner between $16,000 and $80,000 per exchange (which must occur every month). For this technology to be implemented, several changes must be made to induce ship owners to participate. Therefore, Nutech suggests that the implementation period in S. 363 be shortened so ships currently in service will have to treat their ballast water once the Coast Guard approves a treatment technology. Nutech believes this change ensures that ballast water treatment continues to evolve along with technology. Second, to speed up the implementation date of the legislation the Committee should expand the scope of the Coast Guard's Shipboard Evaluation and Testing Program (STEP) to allow more ships of the same owner to participate in experimental technology program. In addition, we should consider grandfathering in owners who install approved technology prior to the mandatory implementation date to current standards. Third, in terms of complying with Coast Guard regulations, ship captains must be able to prove that they have been treating their ballast water. For more effective testing, it is suggested that conducting microbe counts at every port is not an effect way to measure the quality of the ballast water. Total Residual Oxidant testing should be the main test of ballast water with microbe testing done on a periodic basis. Finally, any Congressional action should be the exclusive legislative authority for mandating methods of treatment and discharge of ballast water. This provision will prevent conflicting regulation of discharges under the Clean Water Act.

It is vital that we on this Committee work with companies such as Nutech to create an efficient regulatory environment that fosters innovation. By developing incentives that allow ship owners to invest in new technology, we will be able to better protect the environment with a lower cost to business owners. I hope that during this hearing we will consider the best way to remedy this significant problem impacting our oceans and lakes. I again would like to thank the Chairman for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with the Committee as we figure out the best legislative approach for dealing with this problem. Thank you.

http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=1543&wit_id=4242