Final 401 Certification for U.S. EPA's Vessel General NPDES Permit

September 20, 2012

Notice is hereby given that the Director of Ohio EPA has issued two final 401 certifications for U.S. EPA's Vessel General NPDES permits.

Draft 401 Certification for U.S. EPA's Vessel General NPDES Permit

May 9, 2012

Notice is hereby given that the Director of Ohio EPA has issued two draft 401 certifications for U.S. EPA's Vessel General NPDES permits.  The deadline for comments is June 25, 2012.

Final 401 Certification for U.S. EPA's Vessel General NPDES Permit

December 1, 2008

Notice is hereby given that the Director of Ohio EPA has issued a final Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the U.S. EPA Vessel General NPDES permit.

U.S. EPA has issued a draft general NPDES permit for discharges from the operation of vessels. The permit would cover vessels nationwide, and covers and regulates a wide variety of discharges from vessels, including ballast water, bilge water and gray water discharged from vessels. Sanitary wastewater discharges are covered by U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

All federal actions that could affect water quality in a state must obtain a certification from the state that the action meets state water quality standards. The issue affecting Ohio waters is the ballast water discharge and whether that discharge meets Ohio Water Quality Standards. Ballast water is water and associated suspended sediments taken into or discharged from ballast tanks to maintain the stability of the vessel.

Eric Nygaard
DSW Permits & Compliance Section
(614) 644-2024
email: eric.nygaard@epa.ohio.gov