Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008

To establish national standards for discharges from cruise vessels into the waters of the United States, and for other purposes.

7/8/2008--Introduced.
Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 - Prohibits cruise vessels calling on U.S. ports from discharging sewage, graywater, or bilge water into U.S. waters unless:
(1) the treated effluent meets specified effluent limits and management standards;
(2)</b> the vessel is proceeding at not less than six knots;
(3) the vessel is not less than 12 nautical miles from shore; and
(4) the vessel is not in a no discharge zone. Prohibits the discharge of sewage sludge, incinerator ash, or hazardous waste into U.S. waters and requires it to be off-loaded at appropriate land-based facilities. Prescribes exceptions for:
(1) discharges solely to secure the safety of a vessel or to save a life at sea; and
(2) Alaskan vessels until 10 years after enactment.
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate such effluent limits that:
(1) are consistent with the capability of the best available technology to treat effluent;
(2) require compliance with state and federal water quality standards;
(3) take into account the best available scientific information on environmental effects; and
(4) require treated discharges to meet specified standards for minimum effluent quality, fecal coliform, and residual chlorine. Requires the EPA Administrator to implement a sampling and testing program, and requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to implement an inspection program, sufficient to verify that such vessels are in compliance with this Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and other applicable federal laws and international agreements. Requires the Commandant to establish a program for the placement of trained independent observers on vessels to monitor and inspect vessel operations, equipment, and discharges. Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out a pilot program to develop and promote commercialization of technologies to provide federal agencies data regarding discharges from vessels and functioning of vessel components relating to fuel consumption and air and water pollution control.
Calls for enactment of standards for:
(1) ballast water; and
(2) air quality regarding incineration and engine activities of vessels.
Establishes the Cruise Vessel Pollution Control Fund. Requires the Commandant to collect fees from vessels for paying passengers to be deposited in such Fund for use in carrying out this Act.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
• and 20 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1]
  • Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
  • Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
  • Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
  • Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
  • Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
  • Rep. Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
  • Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
  • Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
  • Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
  • Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
  • Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
  • Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
  • Christopher Shays
  • Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
  • Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
  • Rep. C. Thompson [D, CA-1]
  • Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
  close

Committees

• House Transportation and Infrastructure
• 2 more
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.6434

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
July 08, 2008

Show All Actions (5 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Jul 09, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
• Jul 09, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
• Jul 09, 2008: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1414-1415)
• Introduced on Jul 08, 2008.
• Jul 08, 2008: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

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Related Bills:

• S.2881

Related Issue Areas:

• Water pollution
• Administrative fees
• Administrative procedure
• Air pollution
• 50 more
• Air pollution control
• Alaska
• Bacterial diseases
• Budgets
• Business
• Business records
• Chlorine
• Coast guard
• Commercialization
• Energy
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Environmental health
• Environmental law enforcement
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmental protection
• Environmental technology
• Executive departments
• Fines (Penalties)
• Foreign policy
• Fuel consumption
• Government information
• Government paperwork
• Government trust funds
• Great Lakes
• Hazardous substances
• Hazardous wastes
• Incineration
• International affairs
• International environmental cooperation
• Law
• Marine engines
• Marine pollution
• Marine resources
• Medical care
• Medicine
• Passenger ships
• Sewage disposal
• Sewage sludge
• Solid wastes
• Standards
• State and local government
• State laws
• Technological innovations
• Technology
• Transportation
• Waste disposal in the ocean
• Waste disposal sites
• Water pollution control
• Water quality
• Whistle blowing

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

March 20, 2009 Cruise Tourism and Its Impact on Ecology and Environment

The state of the cruise industry was recently examined and discussed by all the major players at the 2009 Annual Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami. The hot topic at the convention was, of course, the economy and how it has effected ...

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Source: Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat...

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July 27, 2008 Friends of the Earth Environmental Round Up

Just last week, Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced the Clean Cruise Ship Act of 2008 (H.R. 6434), a bill that would finally put an end to the dumping of sewage and other pollutants by cruise ships within 12 miles of our coastlines. ...

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Source: Friends of the Earth Environmental Roundup

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July 17, 2008 hr 6434: clean cruise ship act of 2008

hr 6434: clean cruise ship act of 2008. sponsor: farr (d - ca). official title: a bill to establish national standards for discharges from cruise vessels into the waters of the united states, and for other purposes. status: ...

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Source: Overcriminalized: Legislative Update

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