A bill to remove a limitation on a prohibition relating to permits for discharges incidental to normal operation of vessels.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Makes permanent a provision which prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) for a vessel that is less than 79 feet in length or a fishing vessel for any discharge: (1) of effluent from properly functioning marine engines; (2) of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (3) that is incidental to the normal operation of those vessels. (Currently, the prohibition is temporary and the time period in which the EPA is prohibited from requiring a NPDES permit ends on December 18, 2014. This prohibition does not apply with respect to garbage discharged overboard, other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation, discharges of ballast water held in ships to increase stability, or any discharge that contributes to a violation of a water quality standard or poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.)

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2963 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2963

    To remove a limitation on a prohibition relating to permits for 
         discharges incidental to normal operation of vessels.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2014

 Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Mr. Begich, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. 
 Cantwell, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reed, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, Mr. Cardin, 
 Mr. Booker, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was 
  read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public 
                                 Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To remove a limitation on a prohibition relating to permits for 
         discharges incidental to normal operation of vessels.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF CERTAIN 
              VESSELS.

    Section 2(a) of Public Law 110-299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 note) is amended 
by striking ``during the period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and ending on December 18, 2014,''.
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