Exemption for Existing Lakers Sparks Backlash as Environmentalists Warn of Long-term Harm to Great Lakes Ecosystems
Environmental Groups Criticize EPA’s Ballast Water Rule for Lax Protection of the Great Lakes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has come under fire for its recently finalized Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) rule, which critics say falls short of protecting the Great Lakes from the threat of aquatic invasive species. Environmental groups argue that by exempting existing “Lakers”—vessels that operate solely within the Great Lakes—from ballast water treatment regulations, the EPA is allowing a major source of potential ecological damage to persist unchecked.
Ballast water, which ships take on and discharge to maintain stability, is a significant carrier of invasive species. In the Great Lakes, where Lakers account for over 95% of ballast water transfers, this is a pressing concern. However, the EPA’s new rule, signed on September 20th, exempts these vessels from treatment requirements, mandating only that newly constructed Lakers—built after 2026—comply with these standards. In contrast, Canada has imposed stricter rules, requiring all ships, including existing Lakers, to install ballast water treatment systems by 2030.