Clean Hull Act of 2009
Latest action · Nov 18, 2009 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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.
- IntroducedSep 22, 2009
- Passed HouseNov 17, 2009
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Clean Hull Act of 2009 - Title I: General Provisions - (Sec. 101) Defines "antifouling system" as a coating, paint, surface treatment, surface, or device used on a vessel to control or prevent attachment of unwanted organisms.
(Sec. 102) Defines "covered vessel" to mean any vessel (except U.S. or foreign warships, naval auxiliary, or other government noncommercial service vessels) that is: (1) documented under U.S. laws; (2) authorized to operate on the Outer Continental Shelf; or (3) otherwise operating in U.S. internal waters or territorial seas, or is in a U.S. port.
Title II: Implementation of the Convention - (Sec. 201) Requires covered vessels of at least 400 gross tons that engage in one or more international voyages, upon entry into force of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, to carry an International Antifouling System Certificate, issued by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. Exempts from this requirement fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs), and floating production, storage, or offloading units (FPSOs).
Authorizes such vessels of countries that are not a party to the Convention to comply with the Act's requirement through other appropriate documentation considered acceptable by the Secretary.
(Sec. 202) Requires covered vessels of at least 24 meters in length, but less than 400 gross tons, engaged on an international voyage (with the same exceptions as for vessels of at least 400 tons), to carry a signed declaration that the vessel's antifouling system complies with the Convention.
(Sec. 204) Sets forth a process for considering additional controls on antifouling systems.
(Sec. 205) Authorizes the Secretary, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to each undertake scientific and technical research and monitoring and promote the availability of information regarding: (1) scientific and technical activities undertaken in accordance with the Convention; (2) marine scientific and technological programs and their objectives; and (3) the effects observed from any monitoring and assessment programs relating to antifouling systems.
(Sec. 206) Directs the EPA Administrator to provide to any party to the Convention that requests information on which decisions to regulate are based or other information used to evaluate the antifouling system.
Title III: Prohibitions and Enforcement Authority - (Sec. 301) Makes it unlawful for a person to: (1) violate a requirement of this Act; (2) sell or distribute domestically or internationally organotin (biocide) or an antifouling system containing organotin; (3) manufacture or use organotin to formulate an antifouling system; (4) apply an antifouling system that contains organotin on a vessel; or (5) apply an antifouling system on a vessel in violation of the Convention.
Prohibits the hull of a vessel, with specified exceptions, from bearing an antifouling system that contains organotin, unless it bears an overcoating that forms a barrier to organotin leaching from the underlying antifouling system.
(Sec. 302) Authorizes the Secretary to investigate and enforce vessel compliance with the requirements of this Act or the Convention.
(Sec. 303) Authorizes inspections by officers or employees of the EPA or of any state designated by the EPA Administrator.
Title IV: Action on Violation, Penalties, and Referrals - (Sec. 401) Subjects a person who knowingly violates this Act or the Convention to specified criminal and civil penalties.
(Sec. 408) Repeals the Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act of 1988.
Cosponsors 3
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Sep 22, 2009.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-MD | Elijah E. Cummings | Original | Sep 22, 2009 |
| R-NJ | Frank A. LoBiondo | Original | Sep 22, 2009 |
| R-FL | John L. Mica | Original | Sep 22, 2009 |
Actions 20
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Nov 18, 2009Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Nov 17, 2009Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H13013-13018)
- Nov 17, 2009DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3618.
- Nov 17, 2009Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Nov 17, 2009Mr. Cummings moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Transportation and Public Works.
- Aquatic ecology
- Government studies and investigations
- Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
- International law and treaties
- Licensing and registrations
- Manufacturing
- Marine and inland water transportation
- Marine pollution
- Pollution liability
- Product safety and quality
- Retail and wholesale trades
- Trade restrictions
- Transportation and Public Works
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Nov 18, 2009Referred in Senate
- Nov 17, 2009Engrossed in House
- Nov 7, 2009Reported in House
- Sep 22, 2009Introduced in House
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.