The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is inviting public and industry input on the issue of cruise ship discharges at a series of regional public information hearings.
The meetings will be held Sept. 6, Sept. 8 and Sept. 12 in Los Angeles, Juneau, Ark., and Miami respectively. The purpose of the meetings is to gather information on wastewater, solid waste and hazardous waste discharges from cruise ships, their environmental impacts and existing control measures.
Cruise discharges currently are regulated through a combination of domestic and international pollution prevention laws. The EPA is assessing whether these laws adequately protect the environment and whether there are gaps in coverage or application of these laws that may pose a risk to the environment.
The hearings will not cover air emissions or tourism impacts from cruise ships.
To speak at a hearing, contact the Marine Pollution Control Branch (Attn: Cruise Ships), US Environmental Protection Agency, MC 4504F, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20460 or e-mail [email protected]. See http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/cruise_ships/ for more information.
(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)