R.G. Edmonson | Sep 22, 2009 11:24AM EDT
The Coast Guard will hold six public meetings to gather public comment on proposed rules to stop the spread of foreign and nuisance organisms by way of ships’ ballast water.
The agency’s rules requiring ballast water treatment would closely follow new rules adopted by the International Maritime Organization. The IMO previously required mid-ocean ballast water exchange, a technique that is generally considered ineffective.
So far the Coast Guard has identified locations for the first two meetings. The rest are to be announced. All meetings will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The dates and cities are:
- Sept. 28, Seattle, Hotel 1000
- Sept. 30, New Orleans, Hotel Monteleone
- Oct. 2, Chicago
- Oct. 8, Washington D.C.
- Oct. 27, Oakland
- Oct. 29, New York
Further information may be found in Tuesday’s Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-22944.htm
Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.
