Number: RL34640
Title: Regulating Ballast Water Discharges: Legislative Issues in the 110th Congress
Authors: Claudia Copeland, Specialist in Resources and Environmental Policy 
Abstract: At issue was whether the standard-setting, permit, and enforcement authorities of the Clean Water Act (CWA) are better tools for managing ballast water discharges than the approach that was proposed in H.R. 2830. That legislation contained statutory performance standards to be implemented by the Coast Guard which would preempt state regulatory programs that are inconsistent or in conflict with federal law. These issues and the views of proponents and opponents, which could again receive attention in the 111th Congress, are reviewed in this report.
Pages: 11
Date: January 15, 2009