Us Congress House Bill HB1452

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/23
• Refer: 3/8/23
• Refer: 3/9/23

Caption

To amend the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to provide certain data related to water quality, and for other purposes.

Impact

The provisions within HB1452 are expected to strengthen oversight and management of marine environmental health by ensuring that states and territories can access essential water quality data. Enhanced access to this data can aid localities in making informed decisions regarding public health and environmental protection strategies. The bill recognizes the importance of transparent and accessible data on water treatment systems in safeguarding water quality and preventing ecological damage.

Summary

House Bill 1452 aims to amend the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 to enhance the data-sharing capabilities of the Coast Guard concerning water quality. Specifically, it directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to provide data upon request from any state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. The data to be made available includes key information on water quality characteristics and biological organism concentrations related to ballast water management systems that have received type approval certificates from the Coast Guard.

Contention

While the bill promotes increased cooperation and data transparency, there may be contention regarding the extent to which federal oversight and data regulation could impede local management efforts. Some stakeholders might argue that the bill could lead to an over-reliance on federal agencies for information that might be better managed at local levels. This raises questions about states' autonomy and capacity to address specific local water quality issues independently.