Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007

A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution from marine vessels.

7/10/2008--Reported to Senate without amendment. (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2008 -
(Sec. 3) Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations that require specified marine vessels to use fuel that contains not more than 1,000 parts per million of sulfur in their main and auxiliary engines, effective December 31, 2010. Applies such regulations to marine vessels that are within 200 miles of the coasts of the continental United States or the shoreline of the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence Seaway, as the Administrator determines to be appropriate for the purpose of protecting public health and the environment.
Authorizes interim regulations that permit sulfur content in excess of 1,000 parts per million if the Administrator determines that compliance with such requirement is not technically feasible by such date. Requires any such interim regulations to require marine vessels to:
(1) use fuel that contains the lowest quantity of sulfur that is technically feasible by such date not exceeding 2,000 parts per million; and
(2) achieve compliance with the 1,000 parts per million standard on the earliest date technically feasible.
Authorizes the Administrator to provide for an alternative mechanism of compliance for a marine vessel if:
(1) the vessel employs a control technology that reduces emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter to at least the same degree as the reduction that would be achieved through compliance with the applicable fuel sulfur content limitation; and
(2) the emission reductions achieved are in addition to any reductions required to achieve compliance with an applicable engine emission standard.

(Sec. 4) Requires:
(1) the Administrator, no later than December 15, 2008, to establish and periodically revise standards for emissions of oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide from newly-manufactured and in-use main and auxiliary engines in oceangoing marine vessels that enter or leave a U.S. port or offshore terminal; and
(2) such standards to require, beginning January 1, 2012, that the engines achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable through the application of available technology. Sets forth factors for the Administrator to consider when promulgating such standards.
Directs the Administrator, upon determining that the maximum level of control required by regulations applicable to on-road, nonroad, and stationary engines or achieved by sources from which control technologies may be transferred (including sources that use advanced aftertreatment technologies) will not be technically achievable by January 1, 2012, to promulgate:
(1) standards that require the level of control that will be technically achievable by that date; and
(2) additional standards that require either such maximum level of control or the level that will be technically achievable beginning January 1, 2016. Requires such standards to apply to vessels that enter or leave a port or offshore terminal of the United States. Provides for the enforcement of in-use engine standards against:
(1) owners or operators; and
(2) persons that rebuild or maintain such engines.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
• and 6 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
  • Sen. Thomas Carper [D, DE]
  • Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY]
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
  • John Warner
  • Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]
  close

Committees

• Senate Environment and Public Works

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.1499

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
May 24, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Jul 10, 2008: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 110-413. Minority views filed.
• Added to calendar on Jul 10, 2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 870..
• May 21, 2008: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
• Added to calendar on May 21, 2008: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably..
• Feb 14, 2008: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held.
• Feb 14, 2008: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Date of scheduled hearing. SD-406. 10:00 a.m.
• May 24, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
• Introduced on May 24, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.2548

Related Issue Areas:

• Air pollution
• Administrative procedure
• Air pollution control
• Carbon monoxide
• 15 more
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Environmental protection
• Environmental technology
• Executive departments
• Law
• Marine engines
• Marine pollution
• Merchant ships
• Nitrogen
• Ships
• Smog
• Standards
• Sulphur
• Sulphur oxides
• Technology

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

February 29, 2008 Ships keep polluting, for now

The Senate leadership should expedite this critical bill, S. 1499:S.1499:. Meanwhile, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are working on ship emissions ...

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Source: Los Angeles Times, CA

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February 14, 2008 Bunker Fuel Ban Picks Up Steam in Congress

The bill being addressed in today's hearing, the "Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007" (S. 1499), is sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) ...

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Source: Common Dreams (press release), ME

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October 07, 2007 In Depth / Perspective

... CA) to spotlight legislation Boxer has introdocued -- the Marine Vessel Emission Reduction Act (S. 1499) -- to require oceangoing vessels visiting US ...

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Source: LBReport.com, CA

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Blog Coverage

November 09, 2008 Air Pollution from Ships: MARPOL Annex VI and Other Control ...

While awaiting congressional action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), port cities, and states began to act on their own, and, in Congress, other legislation has been introduced (S. 1499 / H.R. 2548) to require EPA to ...

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October 26, 2008 Read the opening statements of Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Inhofe (R ...

Read the opening statements of Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Inhofe (R-OK) of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for the hearing entitled, “Legislative Hearing on the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act of 2007, S.1499. ...

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Source: Groundside Access to Oceanside Ports

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September 30, 2008 Air Pollution from Ships: MARPOL Annex VI and Other Control Options

While awaiting congressional action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), port cities, and states began to act on their own, and, in Congress, other legislation has been introduced (S. 1499 / HR 2548) to require EPA to ...

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