(1) Purpose. These rules apply to all vessels subject to ballast water management provisions under chapter 77.120 RCW. The intent of the state's ballast water management program is to minimize the risk of introducing nonindigenous species from ballast water and ballast tank sediment into Washington state waters. Reporting and recordkeeping are designed to assess a vessel owner or operator's compliance with, and monitor the effectiveness of, these regulations as defined in RCW 77.120.030, 77.120.040, 77.120.070, and 77.120.100. Nothing in this section negates the need to comply with any other state or federal regulations.

(2) Ballast water reporting form requirements.

(a) In general. Vessel owners or operators shall file ballast water management information using a Ballast Water Reporting Form (reporting form) that is acceptable to the USCG and prior to entering waters of the state whether or not they intend to discharge ballast water. Refer to WAC 220-650-070 for interim exchange, WAC 220-650-080 for interim exchange alternative, and WAC 220-650-090 for discharge performance standard requirements. Once within waters of the state, vessel owners or operators shall file reporting forms for voyages between state ports. This is necessary for timely enforcement of regulations and to allow risk analysis by port. Vessel owners or operators who do not regularly discharge ballast water may apply for a reporting form waiver as directed in subsection (3) of this section.

Reporting forms will be used by the department to identify both random and high risk vessels for inspection and to monitor overall compliance, quantities, distribution, voyage patterns and other information associated with potential vessel-related introductions of nonindigenous species.

(b) Prior to entering waters of the state. At least twenty-four hours prior to entering waters of the state, vessel owners or operators must file a reporting form with the department. If filing twenty-four hours prior is not possible due to voyage distance or change in destination, vessel owners or operators must file at the time of first known or predictable Washington port visit. A vessel owner or operator filing a reporting form for a Columbia River visit and stating its destination as a state of Oregon port must file a new reporting form if its itinerary changes to a Washington port or for a subsequent voyage from an Oregon port to a Washington port. The reporting form should be completed according to the following instructions:

(i) The reporting form should only have information related to discharges expected into Washington state waters.

(ii) If submitting a USCG reporting form, it must be completed per USCG regulation under Title 33 C.F.R., Part 151.2041, for each port visit.

(iii) If submitting an IMO reporting form, it must be completed per USCG regulation under Title 33 C.F.R., Part 151.2045(11), and additional information must be included, showing the total number of tanks being discharged.

(c) Within waters of the state. After meeting the requirements of (b) of this subsection, a new reporting form must be filed by the vessel owner or operator for each subsequent port, if any, in waters of the state. Vessel owners or operators must file a new reporting form at least twenty-four hours prior to arrival at the next Washington port or at the time of first known or predictable port visit if filing twenty-four hours prior is not possible due to voyage distance or change in destination. A new reporting form does not need to be filed where:

(i) A vessel moves multiple times between an anchorage and the same port for which the discharge is accurately attributed on the reporting form; or

(ii) The ballast water or sediment to be discharged was taken up at the same port from where it originated within a single port visit and did not mix with ballast water or sediment from areas other than open sea waters.

(d) Amended reporting forms. Vessel owners or operators shall file an amended reporting form where there are information errors or where the results of actual operations are different from the information contained in their last filed reporting form under (b) or (c) of this subsection. An amended reporting form shall be filed at the time of first known or predictable change of destination, and immediately upon the completion of discharge operations resulting in changes to actual volume of ballast water discharged.

(e) Submission. Reporting forms must be submitted in a standard electronic format to the department by email at ballastwater@dfw.wa.gov or, if email is not possible, by fax to 360-902-2943. Reporting forms that cannot be opened electronically or are illegible may not be considered as received in a timely manner and requires filing a new reporting form. Vessel owners or operators who rely on a third party to collect and forward ballast water reporting forms are responsible for ensuring that the department receives the ballast water management information as required in this subsection.

(3) Ballast water reporting form waiver.

(a) In general. Vessel owners or operators who do not, under normal operating conditions, discharge ballast water may request a reporting form waiver from the department. A waiver request form letter, as provided by the department, may be requested for multiple vessels under the authority of a single vessel owner or operator. The waiver request must be received by the department at least thirty days prior to a vessel entering Washington waters and does not release the vessel owners or operators from meeting other federal or state ballast water reporting laws.

(b) Contents. The waiver becomes effective upon department approval. The department will approve or deny approval of the request within thirty days of receipt. The letter must include the following information:

(i) Vessel name(s), identification number(s) (International Maritime Organization, Lloyds of London, or USCG registry number), owner, agent, and vessel type(s);

(ii) A statement that the vessel owner or operator will not discharge ballast water into Washington state waters;

(iii) A statement that the vessel owner or operator will comply with the requirements in subsection (2) of this section if discharge becomes necessary;

(iv) A statement that the vessel owner or operator of the vessel(s) will file for a new waiver if there are any changes in the information required in this subsection; and

(v) The signature of the vessel owner or operator.

(c) Submission. Send the completed form to the department by email to ballastwater@dfw.wa.gov or, if email is not possible, by fax to 360-902-2943, or by U.S. mail to: WDFW, AIS Unit, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, Washington 98504-3200, USA. Incomplete forms will be returned and waiver approval denied until a completed form has been received.

(d) Availability. Vessel owners or operators shall maintain a copy of the waiver in the vessel's ballast water management plan.

(4) Vessels claiming safety exemptions.

(a) In general. Vessel owners or operators claiming a safety exemption under RCW 77.120.030(4) must file a reporting form and provide sufficient additional information for the department to evaluate the claim, determine whether an alternative exchange or emergency ballast water treatment strategy is warranted, and determine whether a temporary compliance plan is necessary to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future claims. The intent of these rules is to prevent or minimize the discharge of unexchanged or untreated ballast water.

(b) Reporting requirements. Vessel owners or operators claiming a safety exemption must notify the department of their intent to do so on the ballast water reporting form as required in subsection (2) of this section. Notification requires writing the words "SAFETY EXEMPTION" on the form where it asks "If no ballast treatment conducted, state reason why not:" and stating the cause as either "ADVERSE WEATHER," "VESSEL DESIGN LIMITATION," "EQUIPMENT FAILURE," or "EXTRAORDINARY CONDITION." In addition:

(i) Vessel owners or operators are not required to request a safety exemption if the vessel does not intend to discharge unexchanged or untreated ballast water and the vessel owner or operator follows the reporting requirements under subsection (2) of this section.

(ii) Vessel owners or operators may rescind a safety exemption claim by filing an amended ballast water reporting form and notifying the department as required in subsection (2)(d) of this section.

(iii) Vessel owners or operators required to meet discharge performance standards under WAC 220-650-090 and claiming a safety exemption due to equipment failure must conduct an open sea exchange or provide evidence to establish why that was not possible.

(iv) The department will waive the twenty-four hour advance notification as required in subsection (2) of this section for circumstances where the vessel, crew or passengers are in imminent danger. In these situations, the vessel owner or operator must file the ballast water reporting form at the earliest opportunity.

(c) Department review. The department will review safety exemption claims and determine whether a compliance plan and/or alternative strategy per WAC 220-650-060 is required to minimize potential discharge of future unexchanged ballast water until compliance with this section can be met. Reviews will be completed within sixty days of safety exemption notification on their ballast water reporting form.

(d) Discharge authorization requirement. Except where discharging is necessary to prevent jeopardy to the vessel, crew or passengers, the vessel owner or operator shall not discharge unexchanged or untreated ballast water without department authorization. The department will determine and require the vessel owner or operator to conduct one or more of the following actions:

(i) Hold its ballast water;

(ii) Conduct an emergency ballast water treatment response;

(iii) Discharge into a reception facility;

(iv) Discharge into specified alternative waters; or

(v) Discharge only the minimum amount necessary to complete a safe operation.

(e) Safety exemption filing fee. The department will assess a safety exemption filing fee of five hundred dollars for administrative costs to assess compliance, unless covered under WAC 220-650-060, or within the sixty-day notice period under WAC 220-650-060. Furthermore:

(i) Payment of the fee is due within thirty days after the date of the written notice by the department.

(ii) The fee is not a formal enforcement action and is a public record.

(iii) The fee may be withdrawn if the vessel owner or operator files an amended report by the payment deadline stating that no ballast water or sediment was discharged into state waters.

(5) Ballast water management plan.

(a) In general. Vessel owners or operators shall develop, and maintain on board, a ballast water management plan that has been developed specifically for the vessel and that will allow those responsible for the plan's implementation to understand and follow the vessel's ballast water management strategy. The plans of unmanned barges may be kept on board the towing vessel or incorporated into the towing vessel's own plan.

The plan should detail safe and effective shipboard procedures for ballast water management, and the central elements of the plan should be the processes, equipment, and vessel safety measures used for implementing the vessel's ballast water management strategy and following the required ballast water management practices. Vessel owners and operators should seek assistance from their class societies, marine surveyors, or other appropriate marine services during the development of the plan.

(b) Contents. At a minimum, the plan should include:

(i) Detailed ballast water management safety procedures;

(ii) Actions for implementing the mandatory ballast water management requirements and practices;

(iii) Detailed fouling maintenance and sediment removal procedures for areas on the vessel where ballast water can be carried;

(iv) Identification of the designated officer(s) in charge of ensuring that the plan is properly implemented;

(v) Detailed reporting requirements and procedures for ports in Washington state where the vessel may visit; and

(vi) A translation of the plan into English if the ship's working language is another language.

(c) Training. The vessel owners or operators and appropriate crew must be trained in the application of the vessel's ballast water and sediment management strategies.

(d) Availability. Vessel owners or operators shall make the ballast water management plan readily available for examination by the department at all reasonable times. The vessel owner or operator shall readily transmit the management plan or any other specific information to the department regarding the vessel's ballast operations as the department may request.

(e) Alternative means of recordkeeping. The ballast water management plan may be an electronically recorded system or integrated into another management plan or system. At a minimum, any alternative method shall meet the provisions of this subsection.

(f) Alternative means of recordkeeping. The ballast water log or record book may be an electronically recorded system or integrated into another record book or system. At a minimum, any alternative method shall meet the provisions of this subsection.

(6) Ballast water log or record book.

(a) In general. Vessel owners or operators shall record all ballast water and sediment management operations in the vessel's ballast water log, record book, or other suitable documentation system. This information is used by the department to assess compliance, review ballast water and sediment management history, and recommend practices that can improve ballast water management compliance and efficiency.

(b) Content. Vessel owners or operators shall maintain a version of the ballast water log, record book, or other suitable documentation system in English on board the vessel that, at a minimum:

(i) Records each operation involving ballast water or sediment management;

(ii) Describes each such operation, including the location and circumstances of, and the reason for, the operation;

(iii) Records the exact time and position of the start and stop of ballast water exchange or treatment operations for each tank;

(iv) Describes the nature and circumstances of any situation under which any operation was conducted under a safety exemption set forth in subsection (4) of this section; and

(v) Records ballast water and sediment management training.

(c) Availability. Vessel owners or operators shall make the ballast water log or record book readily available for examination by the department at all reasonable times. The vessel owner or operator shall transmit such information to the department regarding the ballast operations of the vessel as the department may require.

(d) Retention period. The ballast water log or record book shall be retained on board the vessel for a minimum of two years after the date on which the last entry in the book is made.

(e) Required signatures. The department will require, at a minimum, that each completed page and each completed vessel exchange or treatment operation in the ballast water log or record book be signed and dated by the vessel owner or operator or responsible officer; and that such owner, operator, or responsible officer attests to the accuracy of the information provided and certifies compliance with the requirements of this subsection.

(f) Alternative means of recordkeeping. The ballast water log or record book may be an electronically recorded system or integrated into another record book or system. At a minimum, any alternative method shall meet the provisions of this subsection.