Public comments on NPDES due Aug. 6

The Resource Development Council of Alaska sent out notices in late July, reminding members that comments on development of Clean Water Act national pollutant discharge elimination system permits are due Aug. 6. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking information from the general public as it considers how to develop NPDES permits incidental to the normal operation of vessels.

RDC said there are an estimated 143,000 commercial vessels and more than 13 million privately registered recreational boats that could be affected. “The time and expense incurred by these vessel operators would be significant, with little or no benefit to the environment,” RDC said.

These vessels have been exempt from the Clean Water Act, but due to a U.S. District Court ruling, EPA must now require a discharge permit for all U.S. waters beginning Sept. 30, 2008.? EPA is appealing the ruling.

Comments are due to EPA Aug. 6. RDC said background information, information on where to submit comments and links to additional information are available on its Web site: www.akrdc.org/alerts/2007/epavesseldischarge.html.