Public Petition for Rulemaking: Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant
CLOSED Opened on 8/14/2023 and Ended on 9/4/2023
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At the November 30, 2023, meeting of the State Water Control Board, staff presented the Board with information on the petition and a summary of the comments received on the petition during the public comment period. The petition states that vacuum pumps are used to transfer netted fish and seawater from a waterbody into a hopper on the ship, the water is discharged overboard from the hopper via a pipe, and the fish are emptied into the hold of the ship. There is no addition of any pollutant or combination of pollutants to surface waters through the discharge of the vacuum pump water; therefore, discharges would not be considered a discharge of a pollutant per federal law and the Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation (9VAC25-31). This is consistent with the ruling in the North Carolina Coastal Fisheries Reform Group v. Capt. Gaston LLC et al. (76 F.4th 291 (4th Cir. 2023)) where returning bycatch to the ocean was not considered a discharge of a pollutant. The State Water Control Board voted to not initiate a rulemaking in response to the petition. ...... truncate note
note created: 12/04/2023 at 1:51pm
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205 comments
Comment Title | Commenter | |
---|---|---|
I support this petition | Andy Cortez | 9/4/23 11:58 pm |
Strongly disagree | Doug Freeze | 9/4/23 9:19 pm |
I strongly disagree!! | Jessica Hinson Freeze | 9/4/23 9:13 pm |
Do not support | Lynnee A Morris | 9/4/23 8:23 pm |
Do not support | B Wayne Morris | 9/4/23 8:22 pm |
Strongly Disagree | Thomas Gaskins | 9/4/23 7:56 pm |
I strongly disagree | Joel Deihl | 9/4/23 7:48 pm |
I do not support | John Dameron | 9/4/23 7:33 pm |
I do not support the petition | michelle robbins | 9/4/23 6:39 pm |
I strongly disagree | Leo Robbins | 9/4/23 6:35 pm |
Disagree | Sherry Hudnall | 9/4/23 5:18 pm |
Support for limiting wastewater discharge from menhaden fishing (563 comments, list forthcoming) | Liz Pomper, National Audubon Society | 9/4/23 4:58 pm |
Strongly Disagree | Joanne Hinson | 9/4/23 4:51 pm |
Disagree with this proposal | Carl Rice | 9/4/23 3:32 pm |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | John Geiger | 9/4/23 3:02 pm |
Disagree | Ray Newton | 9/4/23 1:41 pm |
Disagree | Emma Dameron | 9/4/23 1:36 pm |
Disagree | Gracey Dameron | 9/4/23 1:34 pm |
Disagree | Chad Dameron | 9/4/23 1:23 pm |
I strongly disagree with this absurd proposal | J.C. Hudgins-Virginia Watermens Assoc. | 9/4/23 1:03 pm |
Do not support this unnecessary proposal | Mary Deihl | 9/4/23 1:01 pm |
Disagree with this petition | Tyler Mitchell | 9/4/23 12:39 pm |
Strongly disagree | Alan Hinson | 9/4/23 12:38 pm |
I Disagree with petition | Michael Newton | 9/4/23 12:16 pm |
Fishing | Vaughn Coleman | 9/4/23 12:14 pm |
I strongly oppose this petition | Tammy Crandall | 9/4/23 11:54 am |
I disagree with this ridiculous petition | Jimmy Crandall | 9/4/23 11:52 am |
Uneducated Ridiculous Proposal. | Bowe Rogers | 9/4/23 11:45 am |
Uneducated Proposal | Capt. Ryan | 9/4/23 11:36 am |
Comment on petition | Virginia Chamber of Commerce | 9/4/23 10:26 am |
In opposition | Forrest Brann | 9/4/23 10:23 am |
I do not support | Thomas Moore | 9/4/23 9:51 am |
Disagree | SBW | 9/4/23 9:17 am |
I do NOT support | Trevor Deihl | 9/4/23 8:06 am |
I DO NOT support this petition | Robby Oder | 9/4/23 7:59 am |
Strongly disagree with this Ridiculous Petition | Jeff Schenemann | 9/3/23 10:42 pm |
In opposition | Taylor Deihl | 9/3/23 9:34 pm |
Strongly Disagree | James B Packett | 9/3/23 9:26 pm |
I strongly disagree with this petition. | Cheree Brookover | 9/3/23 9:00 pm |
I strongly disagree | Mike Brookover | 9/3/23 8:52 pm |
disagree with petition | Pam Owen | 9/3/23 8:52 pm |
Disagree | Anonymous (220115) | 9/3/23 3:53 pm |
DEQ...Who is actually protecting the Bay? | Kim Hanger | 9/3/23 2:16 pm |
I do not agree with this petition | Lacie Gaskins | 9/3/23 1:44 pm |
Disagree with the petition | Jason Deitz | 9/3/23 1:37 pm |
Support for menhaden wastewater discharge permitting (on behalf of 1,644 individuals) | Jaclyn Higgins, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership | 9/3/23 12:53 pm |
Disagree with This petition | Emory Rice | 9/3/23 12:47 pm |
Ridiculous | Len Dameron | 9/3/23 11:21 am |
Disagree with Ridiculous Petition | Monica Schenemann | 9/3/23 11:13 am |
discharge | Roger Smith | 9/3/23 6:44 am |
Disagree with this petition | Anonymous (220101) | 9/2/23 4:42 pm |
I strongly do not agree with this petition! | USAF (Retired) | 9/2/23 3:35 pm |
I do not support this petition.. cold water and fish scales | Ryan Stephens | 9/2/23 3:33 pm |
I do not support this ridiculous petition | Anonymous (220098) | 9/2/23 2:23 pm |
Disagree - doubtful people even realize what's being suggested here | Monty Deihl | 9/2/23 12:22 pm |
I do not support this petition. | Jessica Somers | 9/2/23 10:43 am |
fishing vessel pump water | Robert Hundley | 9/1/23 11:17 pm |
Discrimination | Anonymous (220092) | 9/1/23 8:00 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Christopher Ball | 9/1/23 7:58 pm |
I agree | Anonymous (220090) | 9/1/23 6:35 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Anonymous (220089) | 9/1/23 6:34 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Stanley Kilman | 9/1/23 6:28 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Lincoln Abbott | 9/1/23 6:27 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Ben Abbott | 9/1/23 6:27 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Aerial Abbott | 9/1/23 6:26 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | William Abbott | 9/1/23 6:26 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Patsy West | 9/1/23 6:25 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Ray smith | 9/1/23 6:24 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Aaron Ashburn | 9/1/23 6:24 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Timothy Abbott | 9/1/23 6:23 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Marty Carter | 9/1/23 6:22 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Brinley Saunders | 9/1/23 6:21 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Victoria White | 9/1/23 6:20 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Jake white | 9/1/23 6:20 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Eugene West | 9/1/23 6:19 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | William Saunders | 9/1/23 6:18 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Nicole Saunders | 9/1/23 6:17 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | BelindaAbbott | 9/1/23 6:16 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Betty Abbott | 9/1/23 6:15 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Clarence Abbott | 9/1/23 6:14 pm |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Jimmy west | 9/1/23 6:13 pm |
Disagree | Robert West | 9/1/23 6:12 pm |
I do not support this petition | Hannah Rogers | 9/1/23 4:43 pm |
I oppose this ridiculous petition! | Christine Rogers | 9/1/23 4:38 pm |
I do not agree. | Michael Clopper | 9/1/23 4:36 pm |
Definitely oppose | Frederick Rogers | 9/1/23 4:33 pm |
Petition | Anonymous (220063) | 9/1/23 4:23 pm |
Petition | Cody Weicht | 9/1/23 4:22 pm |
I do not agree with this petition | Jonathan Somers | 9/1/23 3:33 pm |
Disagree with this petition | Sarina lewis | 9/1/23 3:32 pm |
I do NOT Agree With This Petition | Kassidy Buergert | 9/1/23 3:05 pm |
Disagree with petition. Where does it stop?? | Samuel Somers | 9/1/23 2:40 pm |
Let's disagree together! | Jane B. Crowther | 9/1/23 1:58 pm |
This is ridiculous | Reese Rogers | 9/1/23 1:51 pm |
I do not support this petition | Nick S. | 9/1/23 1:34 pm |
I disagree with this petition! | ALLEN DAVIS | 9/1/23 1:28 pm |
I disagree with this petition | John Haynie | 9/1/23 12:45 pm |
I disagree with this ridiculous petition! | Judy Hudnall | 9/1/23 12:09 pm |
I Do NOT Support This Petition | Hannah Long | 9/1/23 12:01 pm |
Disagree | BLS | 9/1/23 11:54 am |
Absurd accusations | Michael Dameron | 9/1/23 11:50 am |
I do not support this ridiculous petition! | John Deihl | 9/1/23 11:33 am |
This petition makes no sense | Dixie Deihl | 9/1/23 11:32 am |
completely disagree with this absurd proposal | Andy Hall | 9/1/23 10:47 am |
I disagree with this ridiculous petition!!!!!!! | Susan D. Haynie | 9/1/23 10:39 am |
Disagree with Petition | Anonymous (220043) | 9/1/23 10:11 am |
Everyone will be affected | Anonymous (220042) | 9/1/23 9:26 am |
Disagree with this ridiculous petition | Sonny Abbott | 9/1/23 9:16 am |
Disagree | Anonymous (220040) | 9/1/23 9:00 am |
I do not support - | Kevin Wilkins | 8/31/23 7:37 pm |
Ridiculous proposal | Joseph Hudnall | 8/31/23 5:22 pm |
In support of this! | Patrick millehan | 8/31/23 4:17 pm |
In support of Petition 394 | Ken Black | 8/31/23 11:55 am |
Menhaden Fishery Permit Petition | R. Short | 8/29/23 10:39 am |
The most important fish in the sea | Justin Schilling | 8/28/23 3:21 pm |
Protect Chesapeake Bay | L. Rock | 8/28/23 2:44 pm |
I support this measure. | Patrick O'Donnell | 8/25/23 9:59 pm |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | Lynn Jenkins | 8/25/23 4:58 pm |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | Lori Schamerhorn | 8/24/23 2:11 pm |
Urgent Call for Virginia's Protection of Chesapeake Bay and Menhaden Population | Tanya O'Connor | 8/23/23 3:23 pm |
Petition to discontinue of Onega/OceanHarvesters water vacuum pump | Denise D Apple | 8/23/23 6:57 am |
Pumping waste into the bay is just wrong!! | Christi Medice | 8/22/23 5:01 pm |
Menhaden fishing | James Hancock | 8/21/23 10:30 pm |
Protect the bay | Michael Chinn | 8/21/23 4:59 pm |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | Anonymous (219569) | 8/21/23 2:45 pm |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | Capt. Mike Ostrander | 8/21/23 12:08 pm |
Regulation against menhaden water waste into the bay | Edward R Shater | 8/20/23 5:25 pm |
I support this petition to stop dumping waste/byproducts of reduction fishing in the bay. | Chad Satcher | 8/20/23 11:12 am |
Testing water | Danielle | 8/20/23 7:20 am |
Regulate commercial fishing vessel pump water as a point source pollutant | Joe Wray | 8/19/23 12:20 pm |
I support this petition. Industrial menhaden fishing should not be allowed in the Bay at all !! | Betty Doucette | 8/19/23 8:42 am |
I support this petition | Glenn Gardner | 8/19/23 7:51 am |
Petition to Regulate Commercial Discharge | Katie Spruill | 8/19/23 7:04 am |
Cape Henry Audubon Society Supports Petition 394 | Cape Henry Audubon Society | 8/18/23 10:08 am |
Regulate commercial pump water | Kevin Grimsdale | 8/18/23 9:14 am |
Nets do not discriminate | Steven Foote | 8/18/23 8:58 am |
I agree | Shayne Zasimowich | 8/18/23 7:07 am |
I support this petition | Craig Freeman | 8/18/23 7:03 am |
Regulate commercial fishing pump water as point source pollutant | Mitchell Turnage | 8/18/23 5:56 am |
Omega | Greg | 8/17/23 9:04 pm |
Petition to Regulate Commercial Discharge | C.C. Felker | 8/17/23 6:46 pm |
I absolutely agree with this petition! | Nancy H Archer | 8/17/23 6:08 pm |
regulate wastewater dicscharge from commercial fishing vessels | Bob Mandigo | 8/17/23 3:30 pm |
Discharge polluting the water | Nicholas Zacharias | 8/17/23 12:17 pm |
Save our bay from pollution | Charlie Machek | 8/17/23 12:07 pm |
I agree with the petition. | David E Skulski | 8/17/23 11:30 am |
clean water | Anonymous (218848) | 8/17/23 9:52 am |
I support this petition | Chris Lumpkin | 8/17/23 9:31 am |
I support this petition | Anonymous (218839) | 8/17/23 9:23 am |
Stop the harvesting of Menhaden, and the pollution it creates in our environment. | Richard Peterson | 8/17/23 9:20 am |
I support this petition to stop dumping waste/byproducts of reduction fishing in the Chesapeake Bay | Daniele Peterson | 8/17/23 8:51 am |
Menhaden Petition | JJ Greco | 8/17/23 8:16 am |
support | GEORGE DREW | 8/17/23 7:59 am |
Petition | Stephen Brown | 8/17/23 7:47 am |
I Agree With The Petition | Tom Narron | 8/17/23 7:00 am |
Discharge | Chris | 8/16/23 10:36 pm |
Support Petition | Anonymous (218807) | 8/16/23 6:56 pm |
Discharge | Donna Talley | 8/16/23 6:17 pm |
Discharge | John Talley | 8/16/23 6:14 pm |
Menhaden Nets in VA Water | Kevin Smith | 8/16/23 4:53 pm |
Please pass this bill to protect the wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay. | Lorian Blewitt | 8/16/23 4:51 pm |
Omega polluting | Brook hughes | 8/16/23 4:34 pm |
Discharge of waste water from commercial/fishing vessels. | Charles J. Bruckner | 8/16/23 3:54 pm |
Omega discharge | Robert | 8/16/23 3:53 pm |
Bilge Water | Sandra Smith | 8/16/23 3:52 pm |
Strongly Agree | Anonymous (218768) | 8/16/23 2:40 pm |
End Purse Seine net fishing in the Chesapeake Bay | Lee Ceperich | 8/16/23 1:40 pm |
Petition | Anonymous (218749) | 8/16/23 12:30 pm |
Agree with this petition | Anonymous (218748) | 8/16/23 11:49 am |
discharge | stephen Smith | 8/16/23 11:23 am |
I support the petition | Joe Caporaletti | 8/16/23 10:45 am |
I agree with the petition | Anton Sorkin | 8/16/23 10:43 am |
Test the water | Pam Lafferty | 8/16/23 10:35 am |
Omega Discharge/Water Testing | Rob Wilhoite | 8/16/23 10:12 am |
Omega | Anonymous (218738) | 8/16/23 8:37 am |
I support this petition. | Bryan Brown | 8/16/23 7:54 am |
Menhaden boat water discharge | Gus Holzmiller | 8/16/23 7:48 am |
Support this petition | Anonymous (218735) | 8/16/23 7:44 am |
Discharge Water from Omega Fleet | Kevin Smith | 8/16/23 7:43 am |
I support this petition | Bernard Dillard | 8/16/23 7:25 am |
Omega purse seining | Paul Skibicki | 8/16/23 7:24 am |
Support for testing the water | Mark B, Kilmarnock homeowner | 8/16/23 7:03 am |
Test the water | Trey Almeida | 8/15/23 10:51 pm |
Eliminate Wastewater discharge | John Bello | 8/15/23 8:45 pm |
Omega Waste Water | Anonymous (218724) | 8/15/23 7:18 pm |
Agree with the petition | Rob Lampson | 8/15/23 6:49 pm |
support for petition | Scott Gregg, Wreckless Sport fishing Charters | 8/15/23 6:18 pm |
yrs! | Jerry Hughes | 8/15/23 5:45 pm |
Support for petition | Stan Gold, Blind Date Charters | 8/15/23 5:17 pm |
Testing Industrial Fishing Discharge into the Chesapeake Bay | Brian Collins | 8/15/23 4:56 pm |
Menhaden reduction bail water | Steve atkinson | 8/15/23 4:44 pm |
Large vacuum pumps used by Omega Protein ships | John Tyson | 8/15/23 10:44 am |
Omega | dave antos | 8/15/23 9:54 am |
Omega Accountability | Robert Smith | 8/15/23 9:20 am |
Comment on petition 394 | Charlotte Lilly | 8/15/23 9:14 am |
I support petition 394 | Thomas Lilly | 8/15/23 9:00 am |
unpermitted discharge | Andy Cortez | 8/14/23 6:06 pm |
Menhaden Fishery Pollution of the Chesapeake Bay | Kristy Malone | 8/14/23 10:48 am |
stop this pollution | charles adcock | 8/14/23 10:16 am |
In support of regulating menhaden vessel discharge water | Ryan Lockwood | 8/14/23 9:47 am |
DEQ Please Act Now | Andy Cortez | 8/14/23 6:58 am |
I agree with this petition to reduce point source contamination directly into Virginia waters by the | Bill Dunn | 8/14/23 5:10 am |
menhaden fishing boat discharge | Ellen Reid Thurman | 8/7/23 12:22 pm |
Discharge from Menhaden reduction boats | Debbie Campbell | 7/31/23 9:27 pm |
commercial fishing pump water as a pollutant | charles adcock | 7/31/23 3:47 pm |