Final 2013 VGP - US EPA

1 Final 2013 VGP VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF VESSELS (VGP) AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended (33 USC 1251 et seq.), any owner or operator of a vessel being operated in a capacity as a means of transportation who: Is eligible for permit coverage under Part ; and If required by Part , submits a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) or completes a Permit Authorization and Record of Inspection (PARI) form and retains it onboard the vessel Is authorized to discharge in accordance with the requirements of this permit.

2 General effluent limits for all eligible vessels are given in Part 2. Further vessel class or type specific requirements are given in Part 5 for select vessels and apply in addition to any general effluent limits in Part 2. Specific requirements that apply in individual states and Indian Country Lands are found in Part 6. Definitions of permit-specific terms used in this permit are provided in Appendix A. This permit becomes effective on December 19, 2013. This permit and the authorization to discharge expire at midnight December 19, 2018.

3 Page 1 of 194 Final 2013 VGP Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Ira W. Leighton, Deputy Regional Administrator EPA Region 1 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Joan Leary Matthews, Director Clean Water Division, EPA Region 2 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Ramon Torres, Acting Director Caribbean Environmental Protection Division EPA Region 2 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Jon M. Capacasa, Director Water Protection Division, EPA Region 3 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 James D.

4 Giattina, Director Water Protection Division, EPA Region 4 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Tinka G. Hyde, Director Water Division, EPA Region 5 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 William K. Honker, Director Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region 6 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Karen Flournoy, Director Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division, EPA Region 7 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Derrith R. Watchman-Moore, Assistant Regional Administrator Office of Partnerships and Regulatory Assistance, EPA Region 8 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 John Kemmerer, Acting Director Water Division, EPA Region 9 Signed and issued this 28th day of March, 2013 Daniel D.

5 Opalski, Director Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10 Page 2 of 194 Final 2013 VGP Table of Contents: 1. COVERAGE UNDER THIS PERMIT .. 8 Permit Structure .. 8 Eligibility .. 8 General Scope of this Permit .. 8 Vessel Discharges Eligible for Coverage .. 8 Limitations on Coverage .. 10 Reserved .. 12 Permit 12 Authorization under this Permit .. 13 How to Obtain 13 Continuation of this Permit .. 15 Terminating Coverage .. 15 Terminating Coverage for Vessels Required to Submit a Notice of Intent (NOI).

6 15 Terminating Coverage for Vessels not Required to Submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) .. 16 Certification .. 16 Alternative Permits .. 17 EPA Requiring Coverage under an Alternative Permit .. 17 Permittee Requesting Coverage under an Alternative Permit .. 17 Permit Reopener Clause .. 18 Modification of the VGP .. 18 Water Quality Protection .. 18 Severability .. 19 State Laws .. 19 Federal Laws .. 19 Standard Permit Conditions .. 19 Electronic Reporting Requirement .. 19 Additional Notes .. 20 2.

7 effluent limits AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS .. 21 Technology-Based effluent limits and Related Requirements Applicable to all Vessels .. 21 Material Storage .. 21 Toxic and Hazardous Materials .. 21 Fuel Spills/Overflows .. 22 Discharges of Oil Including Oily Mixtures .. 22 Compliance with Other Statutes and Regulations .. 23 General Training .. 23 effluent limits and Related Requirements for Specific Discharge Categories .. 23 Deck Washdown and Runoff and Above Water Line Hull Cleaning .. 23 Bilgewater/Oily Water Separator effluent .

8 24 Ballast Water .. 26 Page 3 of 194 Final 2013 VGP Anti-Fouling Hull Coatings/ Hull Coating Leachate .. 44 Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) .. 45 Boiler/Economizer 45 Cathodic Protection .. 46 Chain Locker 46 Controllable Pitch Propeller and Thruster Hydraulic Fluid and Other Oil-to-Sea Interfaces Including Lubrication Discharges from Paddle Wheel Propulsion, Stern Tubes, Thruster Bearings, Stabilizers, Rudder Bearings, Azimuth Thrusters, Propulsion Pod Lubrication, and Wire Rope and Mechanical Equipment Subject to Immersion 47 Distillation and Reverse Osmosis Brine.

9 48 Elevator Pit effluent .. 48 Firemain Systems .. 48 Freshwater 48 Gas Turbine Washwater .. 48 Graywater 49 Motor Gasoline and Compensating Discharge .. 51 Non-Oily Machinery Wastewater .. 51 Refrigeration and Air Condensate Discharge .. 51 Seawater Cooling Overboard Discharge (Including Non-Contact Engine Cooling Water; Hydraulic System Cooling Water, Refrigeration Cooling Water) .. 52 Seawater Piping Biofouling Prevention .. 52 Boat Engine Wet Exhaust .. 52 Sonar Dome Discharge .. 53 Underwater Ship Husbandry and Hull Fouling Discharges.

10 53 Welldeck Discharges .. 54 Graywater Mixed with Sewage from Vessels .. 54 Exhaust Gas Scrubber Washwater Discharge .. 54 Exhaust Gas Scrubber Washwater Discharge Standards .. 55 Fish Hold 58 Additional Water Quality-Based effluent limits .. 59 Water Quality-Based effluent Limitations .. 59 Discharges to Water Quality Impaired Waters .. 59 3. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS .. 61 Problems Triggering the Need for Corrective 61 Corrective Action Assessment .. 61 Deadlines for Eliminating Problem .. 62 Effect of Corrective Action.