As we reported, the State House last week, approved HB 80, which removes the water quality discharge standards for large commercial passenger vessels, and changes the standards that were put in place by the voter initiative and allows permanent mixing zones.

We spoke to Representative Paul Seaton(R-Homer) who voted against passage due to the removal of the target standards, rather than giving the ships longer to comply as technology improves, will not lower pollution in confined state waters and can impact other resources. Seaton said that he is disappointed that DEC was unwilling to remove the agency’s ability to allow these discharges in the 6 statutorily designated Critical Habitats, including Kachemak Bay.

Seaton also said that he hopes in the end more consideration will be given to reducing the impact of discharges from one million cruise ship visitors per year and we can avoid potential conflicts with other uses of our sensitive coastal waters.

Filed under: News by Andrew Rogers