Great Lakes: Ballast Water Management

The U.S. Coast Guard issued best management practices for vessels entering the Great Lakes or the Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge and declaring no ballast onboard (NOBOB). These practices are intended to minimize the likelihood of inadvertent introduction of aquatic nonindigenous species. The practices include, among other things, conducting either mid-ocean ballast water exchange or mid-ocean saltwater flushing. The draft environmental assessment should be widely available shortly. Comments should be submitted by September 30. 70 Fed. Reg. 51831 (HK Law)