Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance; Public Meetings

Citation85 FR 73438
Record Number2020-24778
Published date18 November 2020
CourtEnvironmental Protection Agency
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 223 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)
[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]
                BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
                

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