...Environmental groups said earlier this week that the EPA's proposed permit on ballast water technology has some positives, but it needs to be strengthened. Groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council have urged the EPA to adopt provisions including a zero-discharge standard for invasive species and a faster implementation timeline for new technology standards.
"The EPA's new proposed permit isn't tough enough to prevent the next harmful invader from slipping into our waters," said Thom Cmar, attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement.
"The Clean Water Act provides the tools to finally slam the door on invasive species stowing away in vessels' ballast tanks, but EPA is still not proposing the strong federal standards we need to fully protect the Great Lakes and other economically valuable but vulnerable watersheds throughout the country."