Cruise Ship Waste–EPA Comment period

Just in from EPA news briefs. For the next 45 days the public has a chance to comment on its Draft Cruise Ship Discharge Report.

The report “assesses five waste streams from cruise ships: sewage, graywater, oily bilge water, solid waste and hazardous waste. For each waste stream, the draft report discusses the nature and volume of the waste stream generated; existing federal regulations applicable to the waste stream; environmental management, including treatment, of the waste stream; potential adverse environmental impacts of the waste stream; and actions by the federal government to address the waste stream.“

The EPA says the public may offer ” input on options, alternatives, and recommendations on whether and how to better control and regulate the five waste streams” during the comment period.

Again: the public has 45 days to comment on the draft report for this controversial issue that is of interest to all Alaska ports on the cruise ship routes.

Learn more about the report and download it: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/cruise_ships/disch_assess.html