EPA's Vessel General Permit and Small Vessel General

BE we provide a summary of the expected overlap of these exposures with the critical habitat
and range of our species. This Exposure Analysis section is followed by the Response Analysis,
which describes the potential effects of discharge constituents and the consequences of exposing
listed species to those constituents.
Discharges Authorized by the VGP and sVGP
EPA identified 27 specific effluent streams as discharges eligible for coverage under the VGP
while the sVGP authorizes discharges or discharge creating activities conducted in the normal
operation of vessels. The VGP and sVGP authorized discharges are cross-walked in Table 6.
Several of discharges authorized by the VGP, such as sonar dome and elevator pit effluent, are
specific to larger vessels and are therefore not included in the sVGP. Many sVGP discharge
activities are either identical to VGP-authorized discharges (e.g., ballast water) or are broader
discharge classifications. For example, the “Engine and Oil Control” discharge activity covered
by the sVGP conceptually includes the “Bilgewater/Oily Water Separator Effluent” and
“Controllable Pitch Propeller and Thruster Hydraulic Fluid and Other Oil-to-Sea Interfaces…”
discharges authorized under the VGP.
Table 6. Discharge classes authorized under the Vessels General Permit and small vessels
general permit.
VGP Authorized Discharge sVGP Authorized Discharge
Anti-Fouling Hull Coatings/Hull Coating Leachate
Underwater Ship Husbandry Discharges
Vessel Hull Maintenance
Cathodic Protection
Ballast Water Ballast Water
Bilgewater/Oily Water Separator Effluent
Boat Engine Wet Exhaust
Controllable Pitch Propeller and Thruster
Hydraulic Fluid and Other Oil-to-Sea Interfaces
Including Lubrication Discharges from Paddle Engine and Oil Control
Wheel Propulsion, Stern Tubes, Thruster Bearings,
Stabilizers, Rudder Bearings, Azimuth Thrusters,
Propulsion Pod Lubrication, and Wire Rope and
Mechanical Equipment Subject to Immersion.
Motor Gasoline and Compensating Discharge Fuel Management
Fish Hold Effluent Fish Hold Effluent
Boiler/Economizer Blowdown
Welldeck Discharges
Refrigeration and Air Condensate Discharge
Exhaust Gas Scrubber Washwater Discharge
Freshwater Layup
Gas Turbine Washwater
These discharges are not typically associated with
sVGP eligible vessels
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