Walsh Votes to Protect Great Lakes From Invasive Species

Letter

WALSH VOTES TO PROTECT GREAT LAKES FROM INVASIVE SPECIES

Legislation Will Regulate Ballast Water of Cargo Ships

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2830: Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which authorizes funding for the United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008. The bill contains strong language supported by Congressman Walsh to regulate ballast water in order to minimize the threat of invasive aquatic species to the Great Lakes.

"The ballast water provisions contained in this bill play an important role in protecting our environment and our indigenous species. Invasive species, such as zebra and quagga mussels and Eurasian water milfoil are reeking havoc in Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and our river systems," said Walsh. "The invasive species have a detrimental impact on our drinking water systems. The mussels out compete native shell fish and the milfoil is suffocating many of the shallower areas of our Finger Lakes. It's important for us to dramatically reduce the opportunities for more invasive species to come into our water systems."

Ballast water is held in tanks or cargo holds of ships to provide stability and maneuverability when ships are at sea. The discharge of ballast water enables organism to be transplanted into waters of which they are not of origin. The ballast water treatment provisions would set a national goal that ballast water discharge into U.S. waters will contain no invasive species by the year 2015. The bill would codify current Coast Guard regulations dealing with ballast exchange operations.

Beginning January 1, 2009 vessels must have a ballast water treatment system that meets stringent standards that would prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. H.R. 2830 also requires the President to establish a national rapid response plan for minimizing, killing, and removing invasive species from U.S. waters.

Earlier this year, Congressman Walsh advocated for the inclusion of ballast water provisions within the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill by sending letters to the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. A copy of the letter is attached below.

Congressman Walsh is also a co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Invasive Species Control Act and the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act; both dealing with the control and elimination of invasive aquatic species.

March 3, 2008

Ranking Member Steven LaTourette

Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation

2371 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Ranking Member LaTourette:

As consideration for H.R. 2830: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 advances, I wanted to reiterate my full support for the following provisions under the ballast water management section of the bill:

· Require NOBON (no ballast on board) vessels to conduct salt-water flushing

· Provide date-certain treatment implementation for ships requiring Best Available Technology by 2011 and install treatment technology to meet U.S. standards by 2013

· Define the role for EPA to review and revise standards, while maintaining enforcement authority with the Coast Guard

· Reconcile the Clean Water Act with the Coast Guard program so that both programs complement each other to provide the most effective protection for the Great Lakes and all inland waters within our Nation

· Strike state-preemption provision, so states can reserve their rights to protect their waters

With these important provisions in place, the spread of invasive species and their malicious effects to our environment can be prevented. With some 100 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and many other water ways within my district, prevention of invasive species is extremely important to my constituents and vital for the livelihood of our healthy waters.

I thank you personally for your consideration to my requests and I look forward to working with you in a bipartisan manner to protect our water resources.

Sincerely,

James T. Walsh
Member of Congress

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