Several environmental groups are challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's restrictions on ship ballast water discharge, saying the laws are too lax and are leading to the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters, according to Reuters. The EPA is required to rewrite its ballast tank rule this year, with it set to go into effect in 2013. But if the new rule is too lax, the environmental groups are threatening possible legal action.
Here are some facts about the development of the rule and this major environmental problem:
* The EPA reports invasive species have become a large issue in the Great Lakes and at least 25 non-native species of fish, as well as many more plant species, have entered the lake system.
* Invasive species often compete against native fish and plants for food and habitat and in many cases are faster reproducing and have no natural predators, leading to the degradation of ecosystems and a reduction of native populations.
* As human activity has increased, especially the operation of commercial and private boats, in the Great Lakes region and connecting waterways, the introduction of non-native species has risen dramatically, noted the USGS Great Lakes Science Center.
* One of the most problematic exotic species has been the zebra mussel, which was introduced in the Great Lakes around 1986 and in less than 10 years, spread throughout the lakes system and many small inland lakes and rivers.
* Last spring, the EPA reached a settlement in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that stated the agency would rewrite the ballast water permit system, ultimately developing stricter standards, according to the Los Angeles Times.
* This settlement was the first time in 35 years the environmental agency agreed to control ballast water from ships as a potential water pollutant.
* The Chicago Tribune added that in December, the EPA proposed new ballast water regulations, specifically that certain ships would have to treat their ballast water before releasing it, but the proposal was heavily criticized by environmental groups.
* The rule proposed just a few months ago would require some ships to have fewer than 10 living organisms per unit of water, a number some environmental groups, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, said should be closer to zero.
* Under the rule, some commercial vessels would have to install technology capable of killing a large amount of organisms, including fish and even viruses, being held by the ship during transportation, reported the Associated Press.
* Even though the EPA has introduced its own proposals, numerous states have their own policies and numeric standards regarding ballast water.
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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