Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 • FOGHORN 31 LEGISLATIVEREPORT www.beurteaux.com Phone: North America (1) 508 558 7007 • 2,000 vessels world wide • World leaders in design and development • Testing to international standards • Comprehensive range of accessories • Service and support world wide • Dedicated to improving products and service Guard in administering the program, relegating the EPA to a secondary position. It will eliminate the ability of individual states to attach their own “add-ons” to the federal VGP, as they can do now. For dischargers of ballast water, it will establish a single national standard as to the allowable presence of microorganisms. It will do away with the ability of third parties to sue alleged violators. Since VIDA’s primary (and very effective) opponent, former Senator Barbara Boxer of California, has retired from public office, the maritime community is optimistic that Congress will approve VIDA in 2017. Infrastructure Funding for Ferry Vessel Construction It appears that President Trump and the new 115th Congress will develop a major infrastructure funding bill. This could even occur within the first 100 days of the President’s inauguration on January 20. PVAbelieves that a portion of this new infrastructure funding should be devoted to construction of ferry boats and other capital needs of ferry systems. In many urban areas, ferries are a key component of the overall trans- portation network. In other areas, ferries provide the only means of surface transportation to islands or other remote locations not served by highways. Since ferry vessels that operate do- mestically must by law be construct- ed in the United States, an infusion of funds for ferry vessels will directly benefit American shipyards and their employees. PVAis assembling a summary of an- ticipated ferry capital needs for the next five years. This will be used to buttress PVA’s request to the Administration and Congress to devote a portion of the new infrastructure funding for con- struction of ferry vessels and facilities. Repeal of Unnecessary Paperwork Requirement – Official Logbooks Prior to the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act, hardly any U.S.- flagged passenger-carrying vessels were required by federal law or regu- lation to have an “official logbook,” a document in which a dozen types of entries are required by U.S. law. However, in section 607 of that law, Congress told the Coast Guard to require “official logbooks” on nearly all inspected U.S. vessels, including passenger-carrying vessels. There is no indication that the absence of “official logbooks” on passenger-carrying vessels has ever created problems for mariners, vessel operators, or the U.S. Coast Guard. Given the absence of a problem, why should operators of U.S.-flagged passenger-carrying vessels – most of whom are small businesses -- comply with a regulatory mandate for which there is no need? Here is an excellent example of an unnecessary mandate begging to be eliminated. A rulemaking is necessary to implement the “official logbook” mandate. More than six years after the law’s enactment, the Coast