Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing Methods for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems; Withdrawal

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing this notice to advise Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and the public that the Coast Guard is withdrawing the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing Methods for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems, which was published in the Federal Register on August 21, 2024.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 165 (Thursday, August 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55351-55352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17479]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2024-0501]


Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing 
Methods for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems; 
Withdrawal

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent for intent to prepare a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement; notice of virtual scoping meetings; and 
request for comments; withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing this notice to advise Federal, 
State, and local governmental agencies and the public that the Coast 
Guard is withdrawing the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the 
Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing Methods 
for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems, which was 
published in the Federal Register on August 21, 2024.

DATES: The NOI to prepare a PEIS published in the Federal Register on

[[Page 55352]]

August 21, 2024 (89 FR 67646), is withdrawn as of August 27, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Related information on the notice of intent is available in 
docket number USCG-2025-0501 at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning this notice 
should be directed to Commander Brad Peifer, Coast Guard; telephone 
571-608-7869; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f1c1872101a0c1f2a2c3c3871323633"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1e2e68ceee4f2e1d4d2c2c68fccc8cd">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We previously published an NOI to prepare a 
PEIS in the Federal Register on August 21, 2024 (89 FR 67646). That 
notice asked for public participation and request for comments on 
proposed acceptance of viability testing methods. Following the 
publication of the NOI, the Coast Guard held three virtual scoping 
meetings on September 5, 10, and 11, 2024. The Coast Guard received 9 
comments on the NOI that reflected the following main themes:
    <bullet> Coast Guard should promote maximum protection against 
aquatic invasive species;
    <bullet> Coast Guard should align with IMO, including using MPN + 
Motility;
    <bullet> Coast Guard should acknowledge current weaknesses in type 
approval and conduct more rigorous research to support compliance.
    However, since publication of the NOI, the Coast Guard has re-
evaluated the purpose and need for the proposed action and determined 
we have insufficient information available to evaluate the NOI's 
proposed viability test methods in accordance with our process laid out 
in CG-OES Policy Letter 02-22. As such, this type of National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is not practicable at this time. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard is terminating this NEPA review process by 
withdrawing its NOI to prepare a PEIS. The Coast Guard will conduct a 
NEPA review of viability testing methods submitted in the future only, 
as necessary, and according to current Coast Guard policy CG-OES Policy 
Letter 02-22. That policy letter is available on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> by 
searching for docket number USCG-2019-0477.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: August 24, 2026.

R.C. Compher,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2026-17479 Filed 8-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>