A bill to clarify the circumstances during which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and applicable States may require permits for discharges from certain vessels, and to require the Administrator to conduct a study of discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels.
Latest action · Jul 31, 2008 Became Public Law No: 110-299.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJul 22, 2008
- Passed SenateJul 22, 2008
- Passed HouseJul 22, 2008
- To the PresidentJul 25, 2008
- Became lawJul 31, 2008Public Law 110-299
Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or a state with an approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, from requiring an NPDES permit for a covered vessel for the next two years for any discharge: (1) of effluent from properly functioning marine engines; (2) of laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes; or (3) that is incidental to the normal operation of a covered vessel. Defines "covered vessel" to mean a vessel that is less than 79 feet in length or a fishing vessel.
Requires the Administrator to evaluate the impacts of such discharges, excluding discharges: (1) from a vessel of the Armed Forces; (2) of sewage from a vessel, other than the discharge of graywater from a vessel operating on the Great Lakes; and (3) of ballast water. Requires the Administrator to: (1) provide for public comment on a draft of such evaluation; and (2) submit a final report to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Provides that such prohibition does not apply with respect to: (1) rubbish, trash, garbage, or other such materials discharged overboard; (2) other discharges when the vessel is operating in a capacity other than as a means of transportation; (3) ballast water discharges; or (4) any discharge that contributes to a violation of a water quality standard or poses an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
Cosponsors 15
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Jul 22, 2008.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-FL | Bill Nelson | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-LA | David Vitter | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-NC | Elizabeth Dole | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| D-MA | John F. Kerry | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-GA | Johnny Isakson | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| D-WA | Maria Cantwell | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| D-LA | Mary L. Landrieu | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-FL | Mel Martinez | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-ME | Olympia J. Snowe | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| D-WA | Patty Murray | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-MS | Roger F. Wicker | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-GA | Saxby Chambliss | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| D-RI | Sheldon Whitehouse | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-ME | Susan M. Collins | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
| R-AK | Ted Stevens | Original | Jul 22, 2008 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee | Exchange of letters Aug 15, 2008 |
Actions 14
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jul 31, 2008Signed by President.
- Jul 31, 2008Became Public Law No: 110-299.
- Jul 25, 2008Presented to President.
- Jul 22, 2008Introduced in Senate
- Jul 22, 2008Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6981-6983; text as passed Senate: CR S6983)
- Jul 22, 2008Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jul 22, 2008Received in the House.
- Jul 22, 2008Held at the desk.
- Jul 22, 2008Mr. Oberstar moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Jul 22, 2008Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6752-6756)
- Jul 22, 2008DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3298.
- Jul 22, 2008Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6752)
- Jul 22, 2008Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Jul 22, 2008Cleared for White House.
In the Congressional Record 1
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House · Senate | Debate and remarks H6752–H6756, S6981Text printed H6752, S6983 | Eddie Bernice Johnson D-TX, Frank A. LoBiondo R-NJ, James L. Oberstar D-MN, Lisa Murkowski R-AK, Patty Murray D-WA, Steven C. LaTourette R-OH | Jul 22, 2008 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
CRS reports 4
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 4
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R45050 | Vessel Incidental Discharge Legislation in the 115th Congress: Background and Issues Archived | Report | Jan 26, 2018 |
| R42142 | EPA’s Vessel General Permits: Background and Issues Archived | Report | Oct 12, 2016 |
| R40098 | Water Quality Issues in the 111th Congress: Oversight and Implementation Archived | Report | Jan 11, 2011 |
| RL32275 | Small Business Tax Preferences: Significant Legislative Proposals in the 110th Congress Archived | Report | Jun 7, 2007 |
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
Titles 1
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to clarify the circumstances during which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and applicable States may require permits for discharges from certain vessels, and to require the Administrator to conduct a study of discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Environmental Protection.
Text 3
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jul 24, 2008Enrolled Bill
- Jul 22, 2008Engrossed in Senate
- Jul 22, 2008Considered and Passed Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
