12 



In developing the regulations and those upcoming for the 

 Hudson River, we recognize that scientific and safety issues of bal- 

 last water exchange suggest the need for alternative methods of 

 ballast water management. From our earliest involvement with the 

 nonindigenous aquatic nuisance issue, the Coast Guard believed 

 this issue must be addressed both domestically and as an interna- 

 tional effort. . 



Accordingly, we have used our leadership at the International 

 Maritime Organization for the development of international ballast 

 water standards such as the IMO voluntary ballast water manage- 

 ment guide lines adopted in July of 1991. To facilitate this effort, 

 we are a member of the IMO working group looking at ballast 

 water management as a possible new annex to the MARPOL con- 

 vention. 



I think it is important to mention that we are leveraging existing 

 U.S. Federal assets by inviting representatives of NOAA to attend 

 the IMO working group and bring their scientific knowledge to this 

 important effort. 



While the Coast Guard has ballast water enforcement authority 

 over vessels entering the Great Lakes, we have been actively in- 

 volved in a nationwide effort to reduce the introduction of aquatic 

 nuisance species and pathogens using education and the voluntary 

 guidelines. As a member of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task 

 Force and a member of its committees, we are working with States 

 who have expressed interest in ballast water management. Among 

 these is California, with its requirement that vessels entering Cali- 

 fornia ports use ballast water management practices. 



As required by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 

 and Control Act, the Coast Guard conducted a shipping study to ex- 

 plore the impact of shipping on the introduction of ballast water 

 into ports other than those in the Great Lakes. Under the direction 

 of Dr. James Carlton, the report of this study identifies ports that 

 may be at risk from aquatic nuisance species being transported by 

 ballast water and recommends possible control options. 



The Coast Guard believes that it is imperative that alternative 

 management methods be developed and made available, and we 

 support efforts to define the necessary scientific and technical pa- 

 rameters for such alternatives. 



The Coast Guard has begun working through ASTM, a voluntary ' 

 consensus standards organization, to assess the technical nature of 

 the nonindigenous species problem and develop technical standards 

 for addressing it. ASTM's work will help build a technical consen- 

 sus for solving the ballast water management problem using re- 

 search and assets provided by the government, industry, and other 

 private and public sector organizations. 



In summary, the Coast Guard stands ready to assist any agency 

 or private group in exploring the development of effective ballast 

 water alternatives. We are committed to being a full participant in 

 the effort to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nui- 

 sance species into the waters of the United States. 



This concludes my prepared remarks, and I would be happy to 

 answer questions at any time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

 Mr. LiPiNSKi. Thank you. Captain Donohoe. 



