The draft VGP will replace the existing VGP when it expires at the end of 2013. The permit covers large vessels operating

in a capacity as a means of transportation, such as commercial fishing vessels (which are currently exempt from permit requirements due to Congressional action), cruise ships, ferries, barges, mobile offshore drilling units, oil tankers or petroleum tankers, bulk carriers, cargo ships, container ships, other cargo freighters, refrigerant ships, research vessels, and emergency response vessels.

The term "incidental discharges" encompasses a range of wastewater discharges from vessels during normal operations. For example, "graywater" is water than has been slightly used, such as water from laundry or bathing and "bilge water" is water that collects on the inside of a vessel and is pumped out. Also included in the definition is "ballast water," which has been the focus of the dispute regarding incidental vessel discharges for some time. Ballast water is water that a vessel takes in and/or releases to compensate for changes in the vessel's weight as cargo is loaded or unloaded, or as fuel and supplies are consumed. As a vessel travels, it can inadvertently bring on board aquatic organisms in ballast water from one port, then release those same organisms at another port, where they are not native and can cause environmental harm. The Zebra mussel is probably the most publicized example of an invasive species whose inadvertent introduction to U.S. waters has caused unintended harm. In the Pacific Northwest, fish and wildlife agencies are particularly concerned about the introduction of invasive aquatic species such as smooth cordgrass, Oyster drill, European green crabs, non-native tunicates, and zebra mussels, all passengers in ballast water.

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