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Great Lakes
Article:
Coast Guard to Fine Ships for Ballast
Violations
Lester Graham
Great Lakes Radio Consortium
June 21, 2004
Later this summer, the U.S. Coast Guard will be able to
fine cargo ships that don't comply with ballast water
reporting regulations. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's
Lester Graham reports on this new effort to stop invasive
species from being introduced into the Great Lakes:
Ocean-going vessels have transported aquatic nuisances
to the Great Lakes such as the zebra mussel and the round
goby in the ships' ballast water. Those ships are now
supposed to take measures to prevent bringing in more
problems. Beginning in mid- August, the Coast Guard will
have the authority to fine ships up to 27,500 dollars
if they don't submit a report on the measures taken. Bivan
Patnaik is with the Coast Guard's Environmental Standards
Division...
"The movement of non-indigenous species from one
area to another is a very important environmental issue
and we're all working as hard and as fast as we possibly
can."
Critics say the government has not worked hard and fast
enough. Patnaik says the Coast Guard's new penalties and
other efforts to better manage ballast water are steps
in the right direction.
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