Origanalist
01-21-2015, 08:56 AM
News for Anti-Federalist..
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released penalty guidelines for ship operators who violate Emission Control Area (ECA) rules.
Starting 1 January 2015, operators have been required to use 0.1% sulphur fuel within 370km of US shores. The new penalty policy "is intended to deter potential violators, ensure that the EPA assesses fair and equitable penalties and allow for the swift resolution of claims arising from non-compliance", said the agency in a statement on 16 January.
The new policy is meant to be used for civil penalties calculated in negotiated settlements, not to "control the penalty amount in a case where a complaint has been filed". In the latter instance, the EPA would assert a claim for up to the maximum allowable under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
Under the new guidelines, the penalty would include an 'economic benefit component' (designed to remove any economic benefit of noncompliance) and a 'gravity component' (designed to reflect the seriousness of the violation), as well as adjustments based on various factors such as cooperation, history of noncompliance and the ability to pay.
The economic benefit component would be equivalent to the cost of purchasing compliant fuel minus the cost of the non-complaint fuel that was used.
Under the gravity component, first-time offenders would pay a penalty scaled to the sulphur content of the non-compliant fuel, ranging from $150-$750/tonne of fuel burned within the ECA. In addition, record-keeping violations would be assessed at $2,500-$15,000 per violation per day.
For repeat offenders, the gravity component would be increased by up to 30% for the second violation and by up to 70% for the third violation and thereafter.
http://www.ihsmaritime360.com/article/16215/epa-unveils-new-penalty-scheme?from_rss=1
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released penalty guidelines for ship operators who violate Emission Control Area (ECA) rules.
Starting 1 January 2015, operators have been required to use 0.1% sulphur fuel within 370km of US shores. The new penalty policy "is intended to deter potential violators, ensure that the EPA assesses fair and equitable penalties and allow for the swift resolution of claims arising from non-compliance", said the agency in a statement on 16 January.
The new policy is meant to be used for civil penalties calculated in negotiated settlements, not to "control the penalty amount in a case where a complaint has been filed". In the latter instance, the EPA would assert a claim for up to the maximum allowable under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.
Under the new guidelines, the penalty would include an 'economic benefit component' (designed to remove any economic benefit of noncompliance) and a 'gravity component' (designed to reflect the seriousness of the violation), as well as adjustments based on various factors such as cooperation, history of noncompliance and the ability to pay.
The economic benefit component would be equivalent to the cost of purchasing compliant fuel minus the cost of the non-complaint fuel that was used.
Under the gravity component, first-time offenders would pay a penalty scaled to the sulphur content of the non-compliant fuel, ranging from $150-$750/tonne of fuel burned within the ECA. In addition, record-keeping violations would be assessed at $2,500-$15,000 per violation per day.
For repeat offenders, the gravity component would be increased by up to 30% for the second violation and by up to 70% for the third violation and thereafter.
http://www.ihsmaritime360.com/article/16215/epa-unveils-new-penalty-scheme?from_rss=1