Ch. 532 Rulemaking history
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 Cruise Ships -- Draft Ch. 532, Large Commercial Passenger Vessels
What does the draft rule not do?
The draft rule (Chapter 532) does not further interpret or elaborate on the federal standards. This was done intentionally in order to maintain consistency with the "federal Alaska Law". Maine's Chapter 650 provided a legislative "statement of intent" (in part):
"It is the intent of the Legislature that the regulation of graywater and graywater and blackwater mixture discharges from large commercial passenger vessels that are equipped with wastewater treatment systems that require continuous discharge be consistent with the regulation of similar vessels in Alaska." (emphasis added)
Pam Parker (DEP, Maine Waste Discharge Program, OBD, and Pumpout Programs) has reviewed the draft rule and determined that it can be implemented by the department as written, without additional material. The department also has a preference for keeping it short and simple.
The draft rule (Chapter 532) does not repeat requirements, such as standard permit conditions, that already exist and apply through other DEP rules. In particular, see DEP rules Chapter 529, General Permits for Certain Wastewater Discharges (off-site). Permit standard conditions will be incorporated into a general permit for these discharges.
Note that Chapter 650 provided that one provision of Chapter 529 will not apply to large commercial passenger vessels: DEP may not require an individual waste discharge permit for the discharge of graywater or graywater/blackwater mixture.
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