Adoption Statement on Ballast Water Chesapeake Bay Program Chesapeake Executive Council Adoption Statement on Ballast Water We the undersigned, adopt the recommendations of the Chesapeake Bay Commission in its report entitled, "The Introduction of Nonindigenous Species to the Chesapeake Bay Via Ballast Water." This fulfills our pledge made by the Chesapeake Executive Council in 1993 and contained in the "Chesapeake Bay Policy on the Introduction of Nonindigenous Aquatic Species" to establish a panel consisting of user groups, federal and state agencies, and other interested parties to identify options to reduce the risks associated with the discharge of ballast water into the Chesapeake Bay. By adopting the recommendations, we support the reauthorization of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, the implementation of a national program of voluntary ballast water management guidelines and reporting procedures, collaborative ballast water management protocols by all nations, development of vessel designs to facilitate ballast water exchange, the demonstration of ballast water management technologies and practices, and multi-lingual education campaigns for crews of ships. In 1995, the General Assemblies of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania adopted resolutions urging the U.S. Congress and the federal government to take national action to help prevent the introduction of nonindigenous species to the Chesapeake Bay and all other at-risk coastal regions via ballast water. We join them in this action and furthermore will conduct an annual review to ensure that progress is being made to minimize the risk of ballast-mediated exotic species introduction. Date: November 30, 1995 Signers: For the Commonwealth of Virginia—George F. Allen, Governor For the State of Maryland—/Wm N. Glendening, Governor For the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania— Thomas J. Ridge, Governor For the District of Columbia—Marion Barry, Mayor For the United States of America—Carol M. Browner, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency For the Chesapeake Bay Commission—Michael H. Weir, Chairman http://www.chesapeakebay.net/publications/95ballas.htm (1 of 2) [7/27/1999 9:47:58 AM] ------- Adoption Statement on Ballast Water Return to top of this document Return to Home For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 110, Annapolis, MD 21403, Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY, Fax: (410) 267-5777. ij Last modified 4 March 1996 http://www.chesapeakebay.net/publications/95ballas.htm (2 of 2) [7/27/1999 9:47:58 AM] ------- |