The National Wildlife Federation is suing New York state officials for backing off on tough regulations for ridding ship ballast water of invasive species that threaten the Hudson River, Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes. WAMC’s Dave Lucas reports.
The rules would have required cargo vessels to cleanse ballast water to a level at least 100 times stricter than Environmental Protection Agency standards. Environmentalists and New York's Department of Environmental Conservation have said the EPA standards are inadequate.
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said in February that the state will work for stronger national limits rather than proceeding with the tougher requirements.
Shippers have said the New York rules would effectively shut down international shipping in the Great Lakes since all international cargo ships must pass through New York waters to reach the lakes.
© 2012 Associated Press
