At this link: https://tinyurl.com/Cruise-Pollution-Signatures you will find a petition with the signatures of 7,039 Friends of the Earth supporters. The petition reads:

Re: Please grant Protect-Virginia.org’s petition to initiate a new regulatory rulemaking for
ocean-class passenger cruise ships

Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality, Air Pollution Control Board & Water Control Board,
I am writing to urge you to grant the petition request submitted by Protect-Virginia.org to
initiate new regulatory rulemakings for ocean-class passenger cruise ships.
Virginia’s residents, environment, and rich history are currently threatened by the ongoing
and growing pollution from the massive cruise ships that travel to the state. The cruise
industry is expanding in Virginia. With this comes mega-ships with thousands of
passengers and the associated water and air pollution on a scale unparalleled by other
ships. The increased pollution threatens public health, coastal ecosystems, and Virginia’s
seafood industry.

I support Protect-Virginia.org’s petition requesting that Virginia develop new regulations for
cruise ships in Virginia waters as follows: (1) Mandate the use of low-sulfur fuel, (2) Ban the
use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (open-loop scrubbers), (3) Require the use of shore
power, (4) Restrict the dumping of graywater, blackwater, and other environmentally
detrimental waste products, and (5) Require incident reporting and independent
monitoring to ensure compliance.

Please grant the petition of Protect-Virginia.org to rein in the pollution from the cruise
industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Please contact me at mkeever@foe.org if you are unable to access the full petition at the link above.