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Statement of Need: The unintentional introductions of nonindigenous species into U.S. waters via the discharge of vessels' ballast water has had significant impacts to the nation's aquatic resources, biological diversity, and coastal infrastructures. This rulemaking would amend the ballast water management requirements (33 CFR part 151 subparts C and D) and establish standards that specify the level of biological treatment that must be achieved by a ballast water treatment system before ballast water can be discharged into U.S. waters. This would increase the Coast Guard's ability to protect U.S. waters against the introduction of nonindigenous species via ballast water discharges.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Congress has directed the Coast Guard to develop ballast water regulations to prevent the introduction of nonindigenous species into U.S. waters under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 and reauthorized and amended it with the National Invasive Species Act of 1996. This rulemaking does not have a statutory deadline.

Alternatives: We would use the standard rulemaking process to develop regulations for ballast water discharge standards. Nonregulatory alternatives such as navigation and vessel inspection circulars and the Marine Safety Manual have been considered and may be used for the development of policy and directives to provide the maritime industry and our field offices guidelines for implementation of the regulations. Nonregulatory alternatives cannot be substituted for the standards we would develop with this rule. Congress has directed the Coast Guard to review and revise its BWM regulations not less than every three years based on the best scientific information available to the Coast Guard at the time of that review. This proposed rule includes a phase-in schedule (Phase-one and Phase-two) for the implementation of ballast water discharge standards based on vessel's ballast water capacity and build date. The proposed phase-one standard is the same standard adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for concentration of living organisms in ballast water discharges. For phase-two, we propose incorporating a practicability review to determine whether technology to achieve a more stringent standard than the IMO can practicably be implemented.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: This proposed rule would affect vessels operating in U.S. waters that are equipped with ballast tanks. Owners and operators of these vessels would be required to install and operate Coast Guard approved ballast water management systems before discharging ballast water into U.S. waters. Cost estimates for individual vessels vary due to the vessel class, type and size, and the particular technology of the ballast water management system installed. We expect the highest annual costs of this rulemaking during the periods of installation as the bulk of the existing fleet of vessels must meet the standards according to proposed phase-in schedules. The primary cost driver of this rulemaking is the installation costs for all existing vessels. Operating and maintenance costs are substantially less than the installation costs. We evaluated the benefits of this rulemaking by researching the impact of aquatic nonindigenous species (NIS) invasions in the U.S. waters, since ballast water discharge is one of the main vectors of NIS introductions in the marine environment. The primary benefit of this rulemaking would be the economic and environmental damages avoided from the reduction in the number of new invasions as a result of the reduction in concentration of organisms in discharged ballast water. We expect that the benefits of this rulemaking would increase as the technology is developed to achieve more stringent ballast water discharge standards. At this time, we estimate that this rulemaking would have annual impacts that exceed $100 million and result in an economically significant regulatory action.

Risks: Ballast water discharged from ships is a significant pathway for the introduction and spread of non-indigenous aquatic nuisance species. These organisms, which may be plants, animals, bacteria or pathogens, have the potential to displace native species, degrade native habitats, spread disease and disrupt human economic and social activities that depend on water resources. It is estimated that for areas such as the Great Lakes, San Francisco Bay, and Chesapeake Bay, one nonindigenous species becomes established per year. At this time, it is difficult to estimate the reduction of risk that would be accomplished by promulgating this rulemaking; however, it is expected a major reduction will occur. We are currently requesting information on costs and benefits of more stringent ballast water discharge standards.