U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE ON H.R. 2830 -

A BILL THAT WOULD UNDERMINE EPA AND STATE

AUTHORITY OVER INVASIVE SPECIES IN BALLAST WATER

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008, H.R. 2830, which includes the Ballast Water Treatment Act of 2008, is scheduled for a House floor vote tomorrow Thursday, April 24th. Without amendments, the provisions of Title V of H.R. 2830 could preempt efforts made by California, Michigan, and other states to reduce and eventually eliminate the spread of harmful invasive species in our Nation's aquatic ecosystems. The bill also takes away important federal tools currently available to fight invasive species.

The bill's provisions precluding States from taking their own actions could have the effect of exempting ballast water discharges from the Clean Water Act. The bill would also largely preempt States from adopting discharge standards that are more stringent or take effect sooner than those in H.R. 2830. In addition, by superseding the existing invasive species law's savings clause, the bill could be read as limiting the application of the federal Clean Water Act to these point source discharges. 

This bill will perpetuate the economic and environmental harm of invasive species for many years to come.

Given the federal government's poor track record on addressing ballast water discharges of invasive species, it is essential that States preserve their authority to regulate such discharges with greater stringency to protect their interests.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Call, email, or fax your US. Representative today and ask her/him to REMOVE TITLE V (Ballast Water Treatment Act) from H.R. 2830 in its current form. If you do not know your Representative's number call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected.  To get your Representative's fax and/or email address click on www.house.gov and follow the prompts to link to their websites.

Specifically ask your Member of Congress to support adding the following "savings" provision to H.R. 2830:

Notwithstanding any language to the contrary, nothing in this subsection, the regulations issued pursuant to this subsection, or any voluntary guidelines issued under this subsection shall affect or supersede any requirements or prohibitions pertaining to the discharge of ballast water into waters of the United States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the right of any State or political subdivision thereof, or interstate agency, to exercise its authority consistent with and pursuant to any state or federal law.

State law and the Clean Water Act provide essential tools for controlling water-borne invasive species in the United States. This legislation could take those tools away, leaving in place a weak federal program with inadequate provisions for oversight, enforcement, and implementation. 

In addition, possibly exempting one type of point source of water pollution creates a precedent for exempting others in the future.

Call, email, or fax your Member of Congress today and ask them to either remove Title V - the Ballast Water Treatment Act of 2008 - from H.R. 2830 because it attacks these safeguards or amend the legislation to ensure they are protected.

For your information please find attached a recent letter to this alert, sent by a number of environmental organizations, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the bill.

Thank you again for your help on this critical issue. It does make a difference.        

Natalie Roy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Executive Director

Clean Water Network

202-547-4208, [log in to unmask]

 

 

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