Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 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 U.S.C. 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 1.2; • If required by Part 1.5.1, submits a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) is authorized to discharge in accordance with the requirements of this permit. 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, 2008 for all jurisdictions except Alaska and Hawaii. This permit and the authorization to discharge expire at midnight, December 19, 2013 i Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 William K. Honker, Acting Director Robert W. Varney, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1 6 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Barbara A. Finazzo, Director 2008 Division of Environmental Planning, and William A. Spratlin, Director Protection, EPA Region 2 Water, Wetlands and Pesticides Division, EPA Region 7 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 Carl-Axel P. Soderberg, Director Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, 2008 EPA Region 2 Eddie A. Sierra, Acting Assistant Regional Administrator Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 Office of Partnerships and Regulatory Jon M. Capacasa, Director Assistance, EPA Region 8 Water Protection Division, EPA Region 3 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 2008 James D. Giattina, Director Nancy Woo, Associate Director Water Protection Division, EPA Region 4 Water Division, EPA Region 9 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 2008 Peter Swenson, Acting Director Michael Gearheard, Director Water Division, EPA Region 5 Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 This permit becomes effective on February 6, 2009 for Alaska and Hawaii. Signed and issued this 2nd day of February, 2009 Alexis Strauss, Director Water Division, EPA Region 9 Signed and issued this 2nd day of February, 2009 Michael A. Bussell, Director Office of Water and Watersheds, EPA Region 10 ii Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 Table of Contents: 1. Coverage under this Permit..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Permit Structure .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Eligibility ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 General Scope of this Permit .................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Vessel Discharges Eligible for Coverage ............................................................... 2 1.2.3 Limitations on Coverage......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Reserved.............................................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Permit Compliance.............................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Authorization under this Permit.......................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 How to Obtain Authorization.................................................................................. 6 1.5.2 Continuation of this Permit..................................................................................... 7 1.6 Terminating Coverage ........................................................................................................8 1.6.1 Terminating coverage for vessels required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) ..... 8 1.6.2 Terminating coverage for vessels not required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI)8 1.7 Certification ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.8 Alternative Permits ............................................................................................................. 9 1.8.1 EPA Requiring Coverage under an Alternative Permit .......................................... 9 1.8.2 Permittee Requesting Coverage under an Alternative Permit .............................. 10 1.9 Permit Reopener Clause.................................................................................................... 10 1.9.1 Procedures for Modification or Revocation.......................................................... 10 1.9.2 Water Quality Protection ...................................................................................... 10 1.9.3 Timing of Permit Modification............................................................................. 10 1.10 Severability ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.11 State Laws......................................................................................................................... 11 1.12 Federal Laws..................................................................................................................... 11 1.13 Standard Permit Conditions .............................................................................................. 11 2. Effluent Limits and Related Requirements........................................................................... 12 2.1 Technology-based Effluent Limits and Related Requirements Applicable to all Vessels 12 2.1.1 Material Storage.................................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Toxic and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................ 12 2.1.3 Fuel Spills/Overflows ........................................................................................... 13 2.1.4 Discharges of Oil Including Oily Mixtures .......................................................... 13 2.1.5 Compliance with other statutes and regulations ................................................... 14 2.2 Technology-based Effluent Limits and Related Requirements for Specific Discharge Categories ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Deck Washdown and Runoff and Above Water Line Hull Cleaning................... 14 2.2.2 Bilgewater............................................................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Discharges of Ballast Water.................................................................................. 16 2.2.4 Anti-Fouling Hull Coatings .................................................................................. 21 2.2.5 Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF).................................................................. 22 2.2.6 Boiler/Economizer Blowdown.............................................................................. 23 2.2.7 Cathodic Protection............................................................................................... 23 2.2.8 Chain Locker Effluent........................................................................................... 23 iii Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 2.2.9 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. ........................................................................................................ 24 2.2.10 Distillation and Reverse Osmosis Brine ............................................................... 24 2.2.11 Elevator Pit Effluent ............................................................................................. 24 2.2.12 Firemain Systems.................................................................................................. 25 2.2.13 Freshwater Layup.................................................................................................. 25 2.2.14 Gas Turbine Wash Water...................................................................................... 25 2.2.15 Graywater.............................................................................................................. 25 2.2.16 Motor Gasoline and Compensating Discharge ....................................................