Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Environmental Quality
 
Board
State Water Control Board
 
chapter
[9 VAC 25 ‑ ]

22 comments

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10/21/24  10:50 am
Commenter: Jacques van Montfrans

In support of the petition to protect Chesapeake Bay ecosystems from cruise ship pollution.
 

As a marine biologist retired from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of

William and Mary, I strongly voice my support of this petition to the Virginia Water Control Board. I am keenly aware of the serious environmental threat that large cruise ships pose to the Chesapeake Bay and global ecosystems. These ships are floating cities with the attendant waste stream components which have consequential negative effects on aquatic environments.

 

The option for using open loop scrubbers for reducing sulfur oxides in exhaust emissions to comply with 2020 International Maritime Organization regulations was a loophole embraced by the cruise industry to avoid the more costly option of burning low sulfur fuels. Presently, approximately 80% of cruise ships use open loop scrubbers to “clean” the toxic exhaust that results from burning the least expensive grade of dirty fuel available (heavy fuel oil with a high sulfur content). This cost-saving loophole for the cruise ship industry was implemented in part because of the scarcity of low sulfur fuels at the time. This is no longer the case. Navy and

Coast Guard vessels use lower sulfur fuels and therefore do not require open loop scrubbers. Other large commercial vessels such as cargo ships require a fraction of the energy for operations when compared to cruise ships which require constant power on a far greater scale to provide passenger amenities.

 

Open loop scrubbers work by spraying ambient seawater into the ship’s smoke stacks to intercept sulfur oxides and soot. The washwater, which is highly acidic and laden with heavy metals, is then shunted back into the aquatic environment. The efficiency of these systems is directly linked to the alkalinity (and salinity) of the washwater with maximum efficiency at oceanic salinities. In estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay and fresh water bodies, the efficiency in accomplishing sulfur oxide reduction is highly compromised while water pollution from scrubber discharges remains at a high level.

 

Current federal regulations on the cruise ship industry are outdated and inadequately enforced. Globally, one hundred and twenty ports have banned open loop scrubbers because of their water pollution impacts.  Requiring low sulfur fuels on cruise ships precludes the use of open loop scrubbers and thus impacts on the surrounding environment, and using shore power while in port eliminates engine use altogether.  Additionally, creating no discharge zones for grey and black water effluents reduces the input of phosphates and nitrates to the Bay thereby lowering triggers for phytoplankton blooms. Monitoring onboard compliance of a multibillion-dollar enterprise that is largely self-regulating will enhance enforcement. For these reasons, I fully support the petition calling for stronger, more effective regulations on the cruise industry and encourage the Virginia Water Control Board to implement measures that will protect the important commercial and recreational fisheries resources and Chesapeake Bay ecosystems in general.

 

CommentID: 228145
 

10/21/24  4:41 pm
Commenter: Tom Des Lauriers

I support the petition to tightly control pollution in our waters
 

It’s no doubt that the cruise line industry is causing Havoc around the world with the pollution they produce despite all their efforts to create a façade that they are working to improve their systems.  I highly recommend Virginia prevent the damage that is occurring to our waterways by holding these mega pollution producing machines accountable.

CommentID: 228147
 

10/21/24  6:52 pm
Commenter: Ally Stoeger

Opposed to Cruise Ships in Chesapeake Bay
 

Cruise ships produce gray water pollution which hazardous to the seafood industry and marine life.  The particulate matter released in cruise ship exhaust is hazardous to human health.  Allowing cruise ships into the Chesapeake Peak is begging for environmental hazards and I am firmly opposed. 

CommentID: 228148
 

10/21/24  7:01 pm
Commenter: Elizabeth Erpelding-Garratt

Cruise ship pollution harms people and aquatic life
 

The release of raw sewage, microscopic particulate matter, and acidification of the water are dangerous to aquatic life, the fishing industry, and humans.

CommentID: 228150
 

10/21/24  10:03 pm
Commenter: Jaime Turgeon

Cruise ships do nothing but pollute
 

Cruise ships do nothing but pollute and harm wildlife. The rest of us have the right to a clean environment and the wildlife has the right to a clean safe habitat. 

CommentID: 228153
 

10/22/24  3:56 am
Commenter: Elsy Shallman

Cruise Ship Pollution
 
  • The CO2 footprint for cruise ship passengers is eight times that of land-based vacationers.
  • Most cruise ships burn low grade bunker fuel laden with sulfur oxides, heavy metals, and other toxicants. Pollutants from exhaust emissions are removed by ship scrubbers spraying seawater into smokestacks and returning the acidic wash water laden with heavy metals etc. back into the environment, turning air pollution into a water pollution problem.  
  • Over 120 ports world-wide have banned cruise ships from dumping toxic scrubber waste.
CommentID: 228156
 

10/22/24  8:42 am
Commenter: Larry Raithel

In support of the petition to protect Chesapeake Bay ecosystems from cruise ship pollution.
 

I am commenting in support of the petition, because I am highly opposed to the access of large cruise ships in Virginia waters due to the negative impact on, and risk of environmental disaster in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and associated estuaries and coastlines. These waters are critical to marine life ecosystems, our local fishing industries, and recreational fishing, boating, and beaches. As things stand, the state is barely able to maintain it's waters in a marginally clean, safe level without the additional risk and negative impact of cruise ships.

Large cruise ships, the size of floating cities leave a trail of multiple negative environmental impacts resulting from all of the various ship operations, and required passenger living activities, i.e. feeding, washing, sewage, etc. Despite what they say, it has been demonstrated time and again that environmental concerns, and compliance are low on their priorities.  Accordingly, I fully support and ask for approval of the petition.

CommentID: 228157
 

10/22/24  9:09 am
Commenter: JoAnn Locktov

Protect Virginia
 

I applaud the efforts of Protect Virginia to bring attention to the climate catastrophe that are cruise ships. The cruise industry exploits port communities all over the world, while they pollute our air and water with impunity. It is very challenging to confront a $66 billion industry with the cold facts but that is what Protect Virginia is doing. They deserve everyone's support who cares about the environment, and the health of Virginians. 

CommentID: 228158
 

10/22/24  10:09 am
Commenter: JoAnne Doremus

Cruise ships in York River
 

These cruise ships that are being discussed to be able to be docked "in the river" will bring about such a a disruption to the area.  Not only in the amount of people that will come to this small area, but the disruption to the water way is more disturbing.  We really don't know the total extent of what these ships will do to the aquatic life - we have worked hard to clean up the waterways in such a small area.  One of the most important reasons I don't want to see the ships here is that we are not able to handle these ships at the docks, and building new ones does nothing to help the area or the sea life.  Only more disruption to all.                  

As much as I am for helping to build the economy of our area, I don't feel that bringing in these ships is going to help our town in particular, especially when it ha been promoted that the people that come here will be bussed to surrounding towns.  All we get (in Yorktown) is the pollution of the buses, the trash and mess to clean up.  The crowding of our piers and streets and the cost of extra security (management of bus traffic).  

We, the citizens, of York county have not been given a say as to whether we would like these ships to come in, it is a choice we were not given.  Let us have our say and may the "people win".  Thank you.  

CommentID: 228159
 

10/22/24  11:41 am
Commenter: Elizabeth Wilkins

To Protect Public Health and Ecosystems, I Support this Petition
 

As a marine biologist, I write to urge this board to carefully consider the potential harms of cruise ship pollution to Virginia’s coastal ecosystems and the public health of our citizens. Most cruise ships use a very dirty grade of so called “bunker fuel”, or Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), which is a tarry sludge leftover from the crude oil refining process. Emission of toxic nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from the burning of HFOs is an ongoing serious threat to global human and environmental health, and an acute spill of this low-grade fuel would be disastrous in any marine environment.

 

In 2020, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) set new tougher standards for sulfur emissions, and subsequently the global shipping fleet is in the process of switching to lighter, cleaner fuels. But to save money, the cruise industry has chosen to use scrubbers or Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) to reduce sulfur in the exhaust, rather than switch to more expensive fuels. The types of scrubbers used by most are open-loop systems and do not solve the pollution problem, they just transfer it from the air to the water, which becomes more acidic and laden with toxic PAHs and heavy metals. The problem may be worse in estuaries (such as the Chesapeake Bay) than in the open ocean, because scrubbers are known to be less effective in brackish waters. Coastal habitats and fisheries are acutely vulnerable to the effects of water pollution, and are of major economic and recreational importance to coastal communities.

 

https://theicct.org/publication/air-emissions-and-water-pollution-discharges-from-ships-with-scrubbers/

 

To summarize, environmental concerns include atmospheric pollution and ocean acidification, toxic discharges from open loop exhaust scrubbers (currently banned in 120 ports globally), and wastewater discharges. Fine particulates, residual sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides

found in cruise ship exhaust can cause asthma, emphysema and cancer.

 

Cruise ship waste streams and accidental pollution incidents are increasing in proportion to the burgeoning growth of the industry, and the resulting public health and environmental issues are serious and complex. Please enact tougher cruise ship regulations for the good of the Commonwealth. The very real economic cost to human health, the seafood industry, and coastal ecosystems far outweighs the meager economic benefit of unregulated cruise traffic in our waters. For more detailed information, please visit https://protect-virginia.org/

 

CommentID: 228163
 

10/22/24  12:11 pm
Commenter: James M. Walker

Greedy non-U.S. corporate felons which exploit their crew members, the air water, and port commun
 

I am a maritime lawyer in Miami, Florida who has spent 35 years practicing law relating to cruise ships (the first 10 years as a defense lawyer for the cruise industry and the last 25 for cruise guests and crew members). I have witnessed first-hand cruise lines incorporate in places like Liberia (yes, Africa), Bermuda and Panama, and register their ships in feckless places like the Bahamas in order to avoid U.S. income taxes, U.S. wage and labor laws, and U.S. occupational health standards to maximize profits while escaping accountability. All of the major cruise lines are corporate felons which have been convicted on violating environmental laws protecting the environment and covering their crimes up while lying to federal agencies and authorities. They have demonstrated a consistent interest in themselves at the expense of their ship employees and port communities. They routinely skirt the few laws which attempt to regulate their discharge of pollutants into the air and water.  "Scrubbers" which are designed to reduce air pollution from the exhaust stacks simply dump the highly acidic and toxic sludge directly into state and international waters.         

CommentID: 228165
 

10/22/24  2:25 pm
Commenter: Claudia

STOP THE CRUISE SHIPS FROM POLLUTING OUR OCEANS OR PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS!!
 

Cruise ships poison our ocean!!! They are a big part of the problem!! How are they allowed to continually pollute the ocean with their trash, then go to Court, pay a fine, then back in business doing the same practices of defiling our beautiful oceans!!!! All in the name of GREED!!!!!!!  Why isn't the NOAA after them?  Why does the Court allow them to continually ruin our oceans which are needed for the human population to survive!!!  NO MORE "SLAP ON THEIR HANDS" THEN BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL!!!!!!!!  WHERE'S THE COMMON SENSE? ANY JUDGES HAVE ANY DECENCY? COMMON SENSE?  OR ARE THEY GETTING KICKBACKS FOR THEIR "LIGHT" PUNISHMENTS????  They're polluting the water, which in turn poisons the fish, and then humans eat it??? WTF?? WHO CONTINUES TO ALLOW THESE COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH IT?? THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING THESE GREEDY COMPANIES TO CONTINUE POLLUTING THE WATER THAT WE HUMANS BENEFIT FROM BY EATING LOBSTER, SHRIMP, FISH, ETC...MUCH LESS THE OCEAN LIFE BELOW THE SURFACE THAT NEED TO SURVIVE W/O THE DISGUSTING CRAP  THE CRUISE SHIPS DUMP IN OUR OCEANS!!!!!!! 

STOP THESE GREEDY SOB'S FROM RUINING OUR OCEANS THAT ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SURVIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  GET RID OF CRUISE SHIPS!!!!!!!!!!

DO THE RIGHT THING CUZ IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!!!!!!!

CommentID: 228166
 

10/22/24  7:21 pm
Commenter: Mark Van Raam

More Cruise Ships Please
 

Cruise ships are some of the least polluting ships that ply the seas. They bring many tourist related jobs when they call in a port. I fully support cruise ships calling in Norfolk, Newport News and Yorktown. They generally only stop during certain times each year. They have many anti-pollution systems on board and recycling efforts. 

CommentID: 228173
 

10/22/24  7:55 pm
Commenter: Mary OBryan

Air Pollution turns into Water Pollution
 

Most cruise ships burn low grade bunker fuel laden with heavy metals and other toxins. Some pollutants (not all) are removed by scrubbers that use sea water to spray down the air pollution. They return this sea water now laden with heavy metals and toxic particles back into the sea!  This causes dead zones and is horrendous for our shellfish.  Oysters, crabs and other seal life are a big part of our ecosystem and our economy. We don't want our precious Chesapeake Bay further damaged by these monsters of the sea. 

CommentID: 228174
 

10/22/24  10:07 pm
Commenter: Lisa Sadler

Cruise Ships = Ecological Disasters
 

Cruise ships are among the most significant contributors to climate change, particularly in Antarctica. The black carbon emissions from these vessels are accelerating the melting of snow on the continent. It’s important to note that Antarctica is melting at an accelerated rate and is responsible for one-third of all sea level rise.

Consider the impacts a cruise ship would have on a small river town. It could devastate the environment through air pollution from carbon emissions and by dumping wastewater and sewage into the river, harming marine life and ecosystems.

Cruise ship pollution will disrupt and degrade the natural habitat of both the York River and the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States.

One cruise ship can emit the same amount of sulfur dioxide as 13.1 million cars in a day. Imagine the impact this would have on our ecosystem and small community.

Facts: 

All waste flushed down the toilet on the cruise liner will ultimately end up in the water, contaminating marine ecosystems.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a cruise ship carrying 3,000 passengers produces 210,000 gallons of sewage each week. 

The CO2 emissions from a cruise ship are 1,000 times greater than those from a train journey.

Princess Cruise Lines has faced multiple fines for environmental violations, including: 

In 2016, Princess Cruises and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, pleaded guilty to seven felony charges for illegally dumping oil-contaminated waste and falsifying records to conceal this pollution. The waste included gray water, bilge water, and black oil. The resulting fine of $40 million was the largest ever imposed for intentional vessel pollution.

In 2019, Princess Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation were fined $20 million for violating their probation due to environmental offenses committed in 2016.

During the first year of probation, up to 800 violations were recorded. Many of these offenses were deemed more serious than the original violation.

One significant violation was the dumping by Holland America Westerdam, where 22,500 gallons of gray water were discharged into Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, now the fastest-melting glacier on Earth.

Carnival Corporation committed numerous violations from 2017 to 2022 while on federal criminal probation. It's obvious they would rather pay fines than improve their practices.

 

CommentID: 228179
 

10/23/24  9:51 am
Commenter: Steven Meade

Rash over-reaction
 

I really am not educated about the actual facts on cruise ship pollution.

Seeking to ban certain cruise ship actions (or inaction) via a single State's environmental agency seems a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.  If it were successful and drove cruise ships out of all Virginia harbors, all that happens is the same pollution (assuming this is even true) would be polluting the ocean and Bay waters that still flow into Virginia.  True successful regulation would require at least an East Coast effort.

DEQ is already stretched too thin to handle all the tasks it has been given. Please do not waste time on such a phantom, virtue-signaling effort.

CommentID: 228182
 

10/23/24  2:27 pm
Commenter: E. Massie

Yorktown port of call
 

Please don't let these larger cruise lines dock at Yorktown Beach where my family and children play in the water. Keep them in Norfolk – there’s no one swimming around in the Waterside Drive waterfront.

CommentID: 228203
 

10/24/24  1:10 pm
Commenter: M Hedge

Yorktown Cruise Ships
 

My home overlooks the York river in Yorktown. The waterfront in Yorktown is not large enough to sustain the population of a cruise ship. More important is the pollution it would bring to the river. It seems there are certain members of our York County Board of Supervisors who want to make York County a wall to wall business environment without asking the residents of the County there opinion. The cruise line coming to Yorktown would be an unwanted event for a large majority of the taxpayers of York County. There need to be updated regulations on the cruise lines regardless of the outcome of where they port in Virginia.

CommentID: 228227
 

10/24/24  3:45 pm
Commenter: Maureen Moss

Protect Virgina
 
  1. I strongly oppose large cruise ships in Virginia waters...
    “DEQ should give careful consideration to this petition requesting additional regulations for large cruise ships in Virginia waters.  Pollution from increasing cruise ship traffic and passenger capacity threatens our coastal ecosystems, Virginia’s seafood industry and public health. These large ships, essentially “floating cities” carrying thousands of passengers, have an environmental impact far greater than other commercial vessels. Existing federal regulations governing cruise ship operations have proved inadequate to safeguard the vital public resources of the Commonwealth. The potential for environmental harm from cruise ships is of particular concern for the Chesapeake Bay, its commercial and recreational fisheries, and the fragile ecosystems that support them.“
CommentID: 228237
 

10/24/24  5:53 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

We need cruise ships
 

Travel and tourism improves our area by bringing people in, who buy items, eat in restaurants, etc, all generating additional tax revenues.  Cruise ships bring lots of people who do this, so absolutely let the cruise ships come.  Great for the area!!!

CommentID: 228240
 

10/25/24  1:23 pm
Commenter: Maria Paluzsay

Wrong place for cruise ships
 

The Yorktown waterfront is the very home of American history, even more so than Williamsburg.  The river is full of submerged historical artifacts, and the Colonial Parkway - a National Park - is a tribute to 1930s work projects and the foundations of historic preservation.  Cruise ships undermine everything Yorktown stands for.    Let them come if they must, but further downriver.  

The underhanded methods the cruise company and the York County EDA have chosen to utilize in getting these cruise ships through with little public knowledge and even less knowledge of the environmental effects of the project demonstrate that it needs denial.  If this were truly beneficial, and not just lip service, there would be no need for the deceit.  The financial benefits to the York County residents are not substantiated while the damage to our way of life - the river and its economic and environmental value, the history, and on to the traffic on a highly congested main thoroughfare (with our schools already on that same road) - has been severely understated.  

Cruise ships should remain in Norfolk.  Smaller boats can be run to Yorktown for those interested in the Historic Triangle.  Our river, our battlefields, our historic cemeteries and wetlands need to be safeguarded.

 

CommentID: 228362
 

10/27/24  12:53 pm
Commenter: Marston Youngblood

Better Regulation and Monitoring of Cruise Ship Pollution
 

DEQ should carefully consider the issue of discharges by the cruise ship industry into sensitive environmental areas of Virgina's bays and rivers. The negative impact on the economically important fisheries industry and to the health of the public in the Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay communities, once contamination from these floating cities occurs, is not easily mitigated. Remediation is much more expensive than prevention.

CommentID: 228738