| dc.description.abstract |
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are a global problem placing significant strain on
the environment and its ecosystems. A primary culprit contributing to the introduction
of ANS in waterways worldwide is ballast water, used by vessels to maintain stability
while at sea. For nearly two decades, an acceptable method of ballast water management
was to exchange ballast outside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) prior to entering
U.S. waters, however, these and other methods were only enforceable in certain areas
of the U.S. In 2009 the U.S. Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) seeking to create a Ballast Water Discharge Standard for vessels calling on
U.S. ports and waterways. Over 2,000 comments were collected, and in 2012 a Final
Rule (FR) was issued. This project analyzed those comments, and determined whether
the public materially influenced the U.S. Coast Guard’s FR, while providing justified
recommendations for improving public influence and policy alternatives.
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