The York River Group Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization of over 900 members located in the Virginia Peninsula area, stands in support of Protect Virginia's petition for stricter regulation of cruise ships in Virginia.  The cruise ship companies such as Princess Cruise Lines have incurred large fines for illegal dumping of contaminated wastewater.  Most ships use bunker fuel, or Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) a tarry sludge left over from the crude oil refining process.  The emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from the burning of HFOs are a threat to human health and to the surrounding marine life.  Some gases from the ship can convert to acid rain, and then can return to harm the waterways.  The cruise ships generate contaminants that impact the watermen, sportsmen, and businesses who depend on a healthy marine environment.