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II
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1359
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 24, 2013
Mr. Durbin introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to
establish national standards for discharges from cruise
vessels.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Clean Cruise Ship Act of
2013.
2.
Findings and
purposes
(a)
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) cruise ships carry
millions of passengers through North American waters each year, showcase some
of the most beautiful ocean and coastal environments in the United States, and
provide opportunities for passengers to relax and enjoy oceans and marine
ecosystems;
(2) the natural
beauty and health of the ocean and coastal environment is what draws passengers
to travel along these waterways by ship;
(3) protecting the
natural environment is beneficial to both the environment and to the cruise
industry;
(4) the number of
cruise passengers continues to grow, making the cruise industry 1 of the
fastest growing tourism sectors in the world;
(5) in 2010, more than
10,000,000 passengers departed from North America on thousands of cruise
ships;
(6) as of 2010, the
average annual growth rate of cruise passengers is 7.5 percent;
(7) during the 2
decades preceding the date of enactment of this Act, the average cruise ship
size has increased at a rate of approximately 90 feet every 5 years;
(8) an average-sized
cruise vessel generates millions of gallons of liquid waste and many tons of
solid waste;
(9) in just 1 week, a
3,000-passenger cruise ship generates approximately 200,000 gallons of human
sewage, more than 1,000,000 gallons of water from showers and sinks and
dishwashing water (commonly known as graywater), more than 8
tons of solid waste, and toxic wastes from dry cleaning and photo-processing
laboratories;
(10) in an
Environmental Protection Agency survey of 29 ships traveling in Alaskan waters,
reported sewage generation rates ranged from 1,000 to 74,000 gallons per day
per vessel, with the average volume of sewage generated being 21,000 gallons
per day per vessel;
(11) those frequently
untreated cruise ship discharges deliver nutrients, hazardous substances,
pharmaceuticals, and human pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, directly
into the marine environment;
(12) in the final
report of the United States Commission on Ocean Policy, that Commission found
that cruise ship discharges, if not treated and disposed of properly, and the
cumulative impacts caused when cruise ships repeatedly visit the same
environmentally sensitive areas, can be a significant source of
pathogens and nutrients with the potential to threaten human health and damage
shellfish beds, coral reefs, and other aquatic life;
(13) pollution from
cruise ships not only has the potential to threaten marine life and human
health through consumption of contaminated seafood, but also poses a health
risk for recreational swimmers, surfers, and other beachgoers;
(14) according to the
Environmental Protection Agency, Sewage may host many pathogens of
concern to human health, including Salmonella, Shigella, Hepatitis A and E, and
gastro-intestinal viruses. Sewage contamination in swimming areas and shellfish
beds poses potential risks to human health and the environment by increasing
the rate of waterborne illnesses;
(15) the nutrient
pollution from human sewage discharges from cruise ships can contribute to the
incidence of harmful algal blooms;
(16) algal blooms
have been implicated in the deaths of marine life, including the deaths of more
than 150 manatees off the coast of Florida;
(17) in a 2005 report
requested by the International Council of Cruise Lines, the Science Panel of
the Ocean Conservation and Tourism Alliance recommended that—
(A) “[a]ll blackwater
should be treated”;
(B) treated
blackwater should be “avoided in ports, close to bathing beaches or water
bodies with restricted circulation, flushing or inflow”; and
(C) blackwater should
not be discharged within 4 nautical miles of shellfish beds, coral reefs, or
other sensitive habitats;
(18) that Science
Panel further recommended that graywater be treated in the same manner as
blackwater and that sewage sludge be off-loaded to approved land-based
facilities;
(19) in a summary of
recommendations for addressing unabated point sources of pollution, the Pew
Oceans Commission states that, “Congress should enact legislation that
regulates wastewater discharges from cruise ships under the Clean Water Act by
establishing uniform minimum standards for discharges in all State waters and
prohibiting discharges within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone that do not meet
effluent standards.”; and
(20) a comprehensive
statutory regime for managing pollution discharges from cruise vessels,
applicable throughout the United States, is needed—
(A) to protect
coastal and ocean areas from pollution generated by cruise vessels;
(B) to reduce and
better regulate discharges from cruise vessels; and
(C) to improve
monitoring, reporting, and enforcement of standards regarding
discharges.
(b)
Purpose
The
purpose of this Act is to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) to establish national standards and prohibitions for
discharges from cruise vessels.
3.
Cruise vessel
discharges
Section 402 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
(s)
Cruise vessel
discharges
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
Bilge
water
(i)
In
general
The term bilge water means
wastewater.
(ii)
Inclusions
The
term bilge water includes lubrication oils, transmission oils, oil
sludge or slops, fuel or oil sludge, used oil, used fuel or fuel filters, and
oily waste.
(B)
Commandant
The
term Commandant means the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(C)
Cruise
vessel
(i)
In
general
The term cruise vessel means a passenger
vessel that—
(I) is authorized to
carry at least 250 passengers; and
(II) has onboard
sleeping facilities for each passenger.
(ii)
Exclusions
The
term cruise vessel does not include—
(I) a vessel of the
United States operated by the Federal Government;
(II) a vessel owned
and operated by the government of a State; or
(III) a vessel owned
by a local government.
(D)
Discharge
The
term discharge means the release, escape, disposal, spilling,
leaking, pumping, emitting, or emptying of bilge water, graywater, hazardous
waste, incinerator ash, sewage, sewage sludge, trash, or garbage from a cruise
vessel into the environment, however caused, other than—
(i) at an approved
shoreside reception facility, if applicable; and
(ii) in compliance
with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws (including
regulations).
(E)
Exclusive
economic zone
The term exclusive economic zone has
the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code (as
in effect on the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 109–304 (120
Stat. 1485)).
(F)
Fund
The
term Fund means the Cruise Vessel Pollution Control Fund
established by paragraph (11)(A)(i).
(G)
Garbage
The
term garbage means solid waste from food preparation, service and
disposal activities, even if shredded, ground, processed, or treated to comply
with other requirements.
(H)
Graywater
(i)
In
general
The term graywater means galley water,
dishwasher, and bath, shower, and washbasin water.
(ii)
Inclusions
The
term graywater includes, to the extent not already covered under
provisions of law relating to hazardous waste—
(I) spa, pool, and
laundry wastewater;
(II) wastes from soot
tanker or economizer cleaning;
(III) wastes from
photo processing;
(IV) wastes from
vessel interior surface cleaning; and
(V) miscellaneous
equipment and process wastewater.
(I)
Hazardous
waste
The term
hazardous waste has the meaning given the term in section 6903 of
the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6903).
(J)
Incinerator
ash
The term incinerator ash means ash generated
during the incineration of solid waste or sewage sludge.
(K)
New
vessel
The term new vessel means a vessel, the
construction of which is initiated after promulgation of standards and
regulations under this subsection.
(L)
No-discharge
zone
(i)
In
general
The term no-discharge zone means an area of
ecological importance, whether designated by Federal, State, or local
authorities.
(ii)
Inclusions
The
term no-discharge zone includes—
(I) a marine
sanctuary;
(II) a marine
protected area;
(III) a marine
reserve; and
(IV) a marine
national monument.
(M)
Passenger
The
term passenger means any person (including a paying passenger and
any staff member, such as a crew member, captain, or officer) traveling on
board a cruise vessel.
(N)
Sewage
The
term sewage means—
(i) human and animal
body wastes; and
(ii) wastes from
toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain human and animal
body wastes.
(O)
Sewage
sludge
(i)
In
general
The term sewage sludge means any solid,
semi-solid, or liquid residue removed during the treatment of on-board
sewage.
(ii)
Inclusions
The
term sewage sludge includes—
(I) solids removed
during primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment;
(II) scum;
(III) septage;
(IV) portable toilet
pumpings;
(V) type III marine
sanitation device pumpings (as defined in part 159 of title 33, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)); and
(VI) sewage sludge
products.
(iii)
Exclusions
The
term sewage sludge does not include—
(I) grit or
screenings; or
(II) ash generated
during the incineration of sewage sludge.
(P)
Trash
The
term trash means solid waste from vessel operations and passenger
services, even if shredded, ground, processed, or treated to comply with other
regulations.
(2)
Prohibitions
(A)
Prohibition on
discharge of sewage sludge, incinerator ash, and hazardous waste
(i)
In
general
Except as provided by subparagraph (C), no cruise vessel
departing from, or calling on, a port of the United States may discharge sewage
sludge, incinerator ash, or hazardous waste into navigable waters, including
the contiguous zone and the exclusive economic zone.
(ii)
Off-loading
Sewage
sludge, incinerator ash, and hazardous waste described in clause (i) shall be
off-loaded at an appropriate land-based facility.
(B)
Prohibition on
discharge of sewage, graywater, and bilge water
(i)
In
general
Except as provided by subparagraph (C), no cruise vessel
departing from or calling on, a port of the United States may discharge sewage,
graywater, or bilge water into navigable waters, including the contiguous zone
and the exclusive economic zone, unless—
(I) the sewage,
graywater, or bilge water is treated to meet all applicable effluent limits
established under this section and is in accordance with all other applicable
laws;
(II) the cruise vessel
is underway and proceeding at a speed of not less than 6 knots;
(III) the cruise
vessel is more than 12 nautical miles from shore; and
(IV) the cruise vessel
complies with all applicable standards established under this Act.
(ii)
No-discharge
zones
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, no
cruise vessel departing from, or calling on, a port of the United States may
discharge treated or untreated sewage, graywater, or bilge water into a
no-discharge zone.
(C)
Safety
exception
(i)
Scope of
exception
Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply in any case
in which—
(I) a discharge is
made solely for the purpose of securing the safety of the cruise vessel or
saving human life at sea; and
(II) all reasonable
precautions have been taken to prevent or minimize the discharge.
(ii)
Notification
(I)
In
general
If the owner, operator, master, or other person in charge
of a cruise vessel authorizes a discharge described in clause (i), the person
shall notify the Administrator and the Commandant of the decision to authorize
the discharge as soon as practicable, but not later than 24 hours, after
authorizing the discharge.
(II)
Report
Not
later than 7 days after the date on which a discharge described in clause (i)
occurs, the owner, operator, master, or other person in charge of a cruise
vessel, shall submit to the Administrator and the Commandant a report that
describes—
(aa) the
quantity and composition of each discharge authorized under clause (i);
(bb) the
reason for authorizing each such discharge;
(cc) the
location of the vessel during the course of each such discharge; and
(dd) such other
supporting information and data as are requested by the Commandant or the
Administrator.
(III)
Disclosure of
reports
Upon receiving a report under subclause (II), the
Administrator shall make the report available to the public.
(3)
Effluent
limits
(A)
Effluent limits
for discharges of sewage, graywater, and bilge water
(i)
In
general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
subsection, the Administrator shall promulgate effluent limits for sewage,
graywater, and bilge water discharges from cruise vessels.
(ii)
Requirements
The
effluent limits shall—
(I) be consistent with
the capability of the best available technology to treat effluent;
(II) take into account
the best available scientific information on the environmental effects of
sewage, graywater, and bilge water discharges, including conventional,
nontoxic, and toxic pollutants and petroleum;
(III) take into account
marine life and ecosystems, including coral reefs, shell fish beds, endangered
species, marine mammals, seabirds, and marine ecosystems;
(IV) take into account
conditions that will affect marine life, ecosystems, and human health,
including seamounts, continental shelves, oceanic fronts, warm core and cold
core rings, and ocean currents; and
(V) require compliance
with all relevant Federal and State water quality standards.
(iii)
Minimum
limits
The effluent limits promulgated under clause (i) shall
require, at a minimum, that treated sewage, treated graywater, and treated
bilge water effluent discharges from cruise vessels, measured at the point of
discharge, shall, not later than the date described in subparagraph (C)—
(I) satisfy the
minimum level of effluent quality specified in section 133.102 of title 40,
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and
(II) with respect to
the samples from the discharge during any 30-day period—
(aa) have a geometric
mean that does not exceed 20 fecal coliform per 100 milliliters;
(bb) not
exceed 40 fecal coliform per 100 milliliters in more than 10 percent of the
samples; and
(cc) with respect to
concentrations of total residual chlorine, not exceed 10 milligrams per
liter.
(B)
Review and
revision of effluent limits
The Administrator shall—
(i) review the effluent
limits promulgated under subparagraph (A) at least once every 5 years;
and
(ii) revise the
effluent limits to incorporate technology available at the time of the review
in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii).
(C)
Compliance
date
The Administrator shall
require compliance with the effluent limits promulgated pursuant to
subparagraph (A)—
(i) with respect to
new vessels put into water after the date of enactment of this subsection, as
of the date that is 180 days after the date of promulgation of the effluent
limits; and
(ii) with respect to
vessels in use as of that date of enactment, as of the date that is 1 year
after the date of promulgation of the effluent limits.
(D)
Sampling,
monitoring, and reporting
(i)
In
general
The Administrator shall require sampling, monitoring, and
reporting to ensure compliance with—
(I) the effluent
limitations promulgated under subparagraph (A);
(II) all other
applicable provisions of this Act;
(III) any regulations
promulgated under this Act;
(IV) other applicable
Federal laws (including regulations); and
(V) all applicable
international treaty requirements.
(ii)
Responsibilities
of persons in charge of cruise vessels
The owner, operator,
master, or other person in charge of a cruise vessel, shall at a
minimum—
(I) conduct sampling
or testing at the point of discharge on a monthly basis, or more frequently, as
determined by the Administrator;
(II) provide real-time
data to the Administrator, using telemetric or other similar technology, for
reporting relating to—
(aa) discharges of
sewage, graywater, and bilge water from cruise vessels;
(bb) pollutants emitted
in sewage, graywater, and bilge water from cruise vessels; and
(cc) functioning of
cruise vessel components relating to fuel consumption and control of air and
water pollution;
(III) ensure, to the
maximum extent practicable, that technologies providing real-time data have the
ability to record—
(aa) the
location and time of discharges from cruise vessels;
(bb) the
source, content, and volume of the discharges; and
(cc) the
operational state of components relating to pollution control technology at the
time of the discharges, including whether the components are operating
correctly;
(IV) establish chains
of custody, analysis protocols, and other specific information necessary to
ensure that the sampling, testing, and records of that sampling and testing are
reliable; and
(V) maintain, and
provide on a monthly basis to the Administrator, electronic copies of required
sampling and testing data.
(iii)
Reporting
requirements
The Administrator shall require the compilation and
production, and not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
subsection and biennially thereafter, the provision to the Administrator and
the Commandant in electronic format, of documentation for each cruise vessel
that includes, at a minimum—
(I) a detailed
description of onboard waste treatment mechanisms in use by the cruise vessel,
including the manufacturer of the waste treatment technology on board;
(II) a detailed
description of onboard sludge management practices of the cruise vessel;
(III) copies of
applicable hazardous materials forms;
(IV) a
characterization of the nature, type, and composition of discharges by the
cruise vessel;
(V) a determination of
the volumes of those discharges, including average volumes; and
(VI) the locations,
including the more common locations, of those discharges.
(iv)
Shoreside
disposal
The Administrator shall require documentation of
shoreside disposal at approved facilities for all wastes by, at a
minimum—
(I) establishing
standardized forms for the receipt of those wastes;
(II) requiring those
receipts to be sent electronically to the Administrator and Commandant and
maintained in an onboard record book; and
(III) requiring those
receipts to be signed and dated by the owner, operator, master, or other person
in charge of the discharging vessel and the authorized representative of the
receiving facility.
(v)
Regulations
Not
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Administrator, in consultation with the Commandant, shall promulgate
regulations that, at a minimum, implement the sampling, monitoring, and
reporting protocols required by this subparagraph.
(4)
Inspection
program
(A)
In
general
The Administrator shall establish an inspection program
to require that—
(i) regular announced
and unannounced inspections be conducted of any relevant aspect of cruise
vessel operations, equipment, or discharges, including sampling and testing of
cruise vessel discharges;
(ii) each cruise
vessel that calls on a port of the United States be subject to an unannounced
inspection at least once per year; and
(iii) inspections be
carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Coast Guard.
(B)
Coast Guard
inspections
If the Administrator and the Commandant jointly agree
that some or all inspections are to be carried out by the Coast Guard, the
inspections shall—
(i) occur outside the
Coast Guard matrix system for setting boarding priorities;
(ii) be consistent
across Coast Guard districts; and
(iii) be conducted by
specially-trained environmental inspectors.
(C)
Regulations
Not
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Administrator, in consultation with the Commandant, shall promulgate
regulations that, at a minimum—
(i) designate
responsibility for conducting inspections;
(ii) require the owner,
operator, master, or other person in charge of a cruise vessel to maintain and
submit a logbook detailing the times, types, volumes, flow rates, origins, and
specific locations of, and explanations for, any discharges from the cruise
vessel not otherwise required by the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (done at London on November 2, 1973;
entered into force on October 2, 1983), as modified by the Protocol of 1978
relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships, 1973 (done at London, February 17, 1978);
(iii) provide for
routine announced and unannounced inspections of—
(I) cruise vessel
environmental compliance records and procedures; and
(II) the functionality,
sufficiency, redundancy, and proper operation and maintenance of installed
equipment for abatement and control of any cruise vessel discharge (including
equipment intended to treat sewage, graywater, or bilge water);
(iv) ensure
that—
(I) all crew members
are informed of, in the native language of the crew members, and understand,
the pollution control obligations under this subsection, including regulations
promulgated under this subsection; and
(II) applicable crew
members are sufficiently trained and competent to comply with requirements
under this subsection, including sufficient training and competence—
(aa) to
effectively operate shipboard pollution control systems;
(bb) to
conduct all necessary sampling and testing; and
(cc) to
monitor and comply with recording requirements;
(v) require that
operating manuals be on the cruise vessel and accessible to all crew
members;
(vi) require the
posting of the phone number for a toll-free whistleblower hotline on all ships
and at all ports using language likely to be understood by international
crews;
(vii) require any
owner, operator, master, or other person in charge of a cruise vessel, who has
knowledge of a discharge from the cruise vessel in violation of this
subsection, including regulations promulgated under this subsection, to report
immediately the discharge to the Administrator and the Commandant;
(viii) require the
owner, operator, master, or other person in charge of a cruise vessel to
provide, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection,
to the Administrator, Commandant, and on-board observers (including designated
representatives), a copy of cruise vessel plans, including—
(I) piping schematic
diagrams;
(II) construction
drawings; and
(III) drawings or
diagrams of storage systems, processing, treating, intake, or discharge
systems, and any modifications of those systems (within the year during which
the modifications are made); and
(ix) inhibit illegal
discharges by prohibiting all means of altering piping, tankage, pumps, valves,
and processes to bypass or circumvent measures or equipment designed to
monitor, sample, or prevent discharges.
(D)
Disclosure of
logbooks
The logbook described in subparagraph (C)(ii) shall be
submitted to the Administrator and the Commandant.
(5)
Cruise observer
program
(A)
In
general
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Commandant, in consultation with the Administrator, shall
establish and carry out a program for the hiring and placement of 1 or more
trained, independent, observers on each cruise vessel.
(B)
Purpose
The
purpose of the cruise observer program established under subparagraph (A) is to
monitor and inspect cruise vessel operations, equipment, and discharges to
ensure compliance with—
(i) this subsection
(including regulations promulgated under this subsection); and
(ii) all other
relevant Federal and State laws and international agreements.
(C)
Regulations
Not
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Commandant, in consultation with the Administrator and the Attorney General,
shall promulgate regulations that, at a minimum—
(i) specify that the
Coast Guard shall be responsible for the hiring of observers;
(ii) specify the
qualifications, experience, and duties of the observers;
(iii) specify methods
and criteria for Coast Guard hiring of observers;
(iv) establish the
means for ensuring constant observer coverage and allowing for observer relief
and rotation; and
(v) establish an
appropriate rate of pay to ensure that observers are highly trained and
retained by the Coast Guard.
(D)
Responsibilities
Cruise
observers participating in the program established under subparagraph (A)
shall—
(i) observe and
inspect—
(I) onboard liquid and
solid handling and processing systems;
(II) onboard
environmental treatment systems;
(III) use of
shore-based treatment and storage facilities;
(IV) discharges and
discharge practices; and
(V) documents relating
to environmental compliance, including—
(aa) sounding boards,
logs, and logbooks;
(bb) daily and
corporate maintenance and engineers’ logbooks;
(cc) fuel, sludge,
slop, waste, and ballast tank capacity tables;
(dd) installation,
maintenance, and operation records for oily water separators, incinerators, and
boilers;
(ee) piping
diagrams;
(ff) e-mail
archives;
(gg) receipts for the
transfer of materials, including waste disposal;
(hh) air
emissions data; and
(ii) electronic and
other records of relevant information, including fuel consumption, maintenance,
and spares ordering for all waste processing- and pollution-related
equipment;
(ii) have the
authority to interview and otherwise query any crew member with knowledge of
cruise vessel operations;
(iii) have access to
all data and information made available to government officials under this
subsection;
(iv) immediately report
any known or suspected violation of this subsection or any other applicable
Federal law or international agreement to—
(I) the owner,
operator, master, or other person in charge of a cruise vessel;
(II) the Commandant;
and
(III) the
Administrator;
(v) maintain
inspection records to be submitted to the Commandant and the Administrator on a
semiannual basis; and
(vi) have authority to
conduct the full range of duties of the observers within the United States
territorial seas, contiguous zone, and exclusive economic zone.
(E)
Program
evaluation
The cruise observer program established and carried
out by the Commandant under subparagraph (A) shall include—
(i) a
method for collecting and reviewing data relating to the efficiency,
sufficiency, and operation of the cruise observer program, including—
(I) the ability to
achieve program goals;
(II) cruise vessel
personnel cooperation;
(III) necessary
equipment and analytical resources; and
(IV) the need for
additional observer training; and
(ii) a
process for adopting periodic revisions to the program based on the data
collected under clause (i).
(F)
Observer
support
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this subsection, the Commandant, in consultation with the Administrator, shall
implement a program to provide support to observers, including, at a
minimum—
(i) training for
observers to ensure the ability of the observers to carry out this
paragraph;
(ii) necessary
equipment and analytical resources, such as laboratories, to carry out the
responsibilities established under this subsection; and
(iii) support relating
to the administration of the program and the response to any recalcitrant
cruise vessel personnel.
(G)
Report
Not
later than 3 years after the date of establishment of the program under this
paragraph, the Commandant, in consultation with the Administrator, shall submit
to Congress a report describing—
(i) the results of the
program in terms of observer effectiveness, optimal coverage, environmental
benefits, and cruise ship cooperation;
(ii) recommendations
for increased effectiveness, including increased training needs and increased
equipment needs; and
(iii) other
recommendations for improvement of the program.
(6)
Rewards
(A)
Payments to
individuals
(i)
In
general
The Administrator or a court of competent jurisdiction,
as the case may be, may order payment, from a civil penalty or criminal fine
collected for a violation of this subsection, of an amount not to exceed ½ of
the amount of the civil penalty or criminal fine, to any individual who
furnishes information that leads to the payment of the civil penalty or
criminal fine.
(ii)
Multiple
individuals
If 2 or more individuals provide information
described in clause (i), the amount available for payment as a reward shall be
divided equitably among the individuals.
(iii)
Ineligible
individuals
No officer or employee of the United States, a State,
or an Indian tribe who furnishes information or renders service in the
performance of the official duties of the officer or employee shall be eligible
for a reward payment under this paragraph.
(B)
Payments to
Indian tribes
The Administrator or a court of competent
jurisdiction, as the case may be, may order payment, from a civil penalty or
criminal fine collected for a violation of this subsection, to an Indian tribe
providing information or investigative assistance that leads to payment of the
penalty or fine, of an amount that reflects the level of information or
investigative assistance provided.
(C)
Payments divided
among Indian tribes and individuals
In a case in which an Indian
tribe and an individual under subparagraph (A) are eligible to receive a reward
payment under this paragraph, the Administrator or the court shall divide the
amount available for the reward equitably among those recipients.
(7)
Liability in
rem
A cruise vessel operated
in violation of this subsection or any regulation promulgated under this
subsection—
(A) shall be liable in
rem for any civil penalty or criminal fine imposed for the violation;
and
(B) may be subject to a
proceeding instituted in any United States district court of competent
jurisdiction.
(8)
Permit
requirement
A cruise vessel
may operate in the waters of the United States, or visit a port or place under
the jurisdiction of the United States, only if the cruise vessel has been
issued a permit under this section.
(9)
Nonapplicability
of certain provisions
Paragraphs (6)(A) and (12)(B) of section
502 shall not apply to any cruise vessel.
(10)
Statutory or
common law rights not restricted
Nothing in this
subsection—
(A) restricts the
rights of any person (or class of persons) to regulate or seek enforcement or
other relief (including relief against the Administrator or Commandant) under
any statute or common law;
(B) affects the right
of any person (or class of persons) to regulate or seek enforcement or other
relief with regard to vessels other than cruise vessels under any statute or
common law; or
(C) affects the right
of any person (or class of persons) under any statute or common law, including
this Act, to regulate or seek enforcement or other relief with regard to
pollutants or emission streams from cruise vessels that are not otherwise
regulated under this subsection.
(11)
Establishment
of Fund; fees
(A)
Cruise vessel
pollution control fund
(i)
Establishment
There
is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, to be
known as the Cruise Vessel Pollution Control Fund (referred to
in this paragraph as the Fund).
(ii)
Amounts
The
Fund shall consist of such amounts as are deposited in the Fund under
subparagraph (B)(vi).
(iii)
Availability
and use of amounts in Fund
Amounts in the Fund shall be—
(I) available to the
Administrator and the Commandant as provided in appropriations Acts; and
(II) used by the
Administrator and the Commandant only for purposes of carrying out this
subsection.
(B)
Fees on cruise
vessels
(i)
In
general
The Commandant and the Administrator shall establish and
collect from each cruise vessel a reasonable and appropriate fee for each
paying passenger on a cruise vessel voyage, for use in carrying out this
subsection.
(ii)
Adjustment of
fee
(I)
In
general
The Commandant and the Administrator shall biennially
adjust the amount of the fee established under clause (i) to reflect changes in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of
Labor during the most recent 2-year period for which data are available.
(II)
Rounding
The
Commandant and the Administrator may round an adjustment under subclause (I) to
the nearest 1/10 of a dollar.
(iii)
Factors in
establishing fees
(I)
In
general
In establishing fees under clause (i), the Commandant and
Administrator may establish lower levels of fees and the maximum amount of fees
for certain classes of cruise vessels based on—
(aa) size;
(bb) economic share;
and
(cc) such other
factors as are determined to be appropriate by the Commandant and the
Administrator.
(iv)
Fee
schedules
Any fee schedule established under clause (i),
including the level of fees and the maximum amount of fees, shall take into
account—
(I) cruise vessel
routes;
(II) the frequency of
stops at ports of call by cruise vessels; and
(III) other applicable
considerations.
(v)
Collection of
fees
A fee established under clause (i) shall be collected by the
Administrator or the Commandant from the owner or operator of each cruise
vessel to which this subsection applies.
(vi)
Deposits to
Fund
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all fees
collected under this paragraph, and all penalties and payments collected for
violations of this subsection, shall be deposited in the Fund.
(12)
Authorization
of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Administrator and the Commandant such sums as are necessary to carry out this
subsection for each of fiscal years 2010 through
2014.
.