tandards to those required by the International Maritime Organization. The proposed change reflects the latest science about reducing the risk from invasive species carried in the ships' ballast water, state officials say. The proposed modifications to a general permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to large oceangoing commercial ships will be the subject of a public hearing January 26 in Superior.
Large commercial ships take on and release water to help balance the vessels as cargo is loaded on and off. Along with the water, plants, animals and pathogens are taken in and released as well. Ballast water is the primary way aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussel, round goby and spiny water flea have been introduced into the Great Lakes over the last century.
Wisconsin issued a ballast water discharge general permit effective February 1, 2010, with a requirement to determine, by the end of 2010, if effective treatment systems would be available by the implementation date.
...Certain Wisconsin requirements for handling ballast tank sediment, seawater, and other substances took effect on February 1, 2010, and applied both to oceangoing ships and to the ships that travel only within the Great Lakes. Other requirements will phase in over time, specifically the numerical treatment standard that would apply only to oceangoing ships. New ships must meet the requirement in 2012 and existing ships in 2014. These implementation dates will remain effective in the proposed permit modification."If proposed changes to the permit requirements are made," Frank noted, "Wisconsin still has one of the most protective ballast water permits in the Great Lakes."
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