LANSING – A proposed general vessel permit for ships operating on the Great Lakes would allow international freighters to operate their ballast waters on international standards, and environmental groups on Thursday criticized that proposal as too weak to protect the lakes from additional invasive species.

The proposed rule was issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, as the agency had promised it would do by the end of November, and now has to go through public comments. The earliest officials project the rule could take effect is in late 2012.

But the rule would effectively allow international freighters to use ballast waters standards set by the International Maritime Organization.

That standard also would be allowed in legislation that passed the U.S. House earlier in November, though that standard was opposed by all members of the Michigan delegation.

The International Maritime Organization standard would also be substantially weaker than ballast water standards set by Michigan law and law and rules in all the other Great Lakes states. Great Lakes Office Director Patricia Birkholz said recently that since Michigan set its ballast water standards no new invasive species has come into the Great Lakes.

Environmental groups said the IMO standards are better than earlier standards set by the same organization, but still not strong enough to protect the lakes.

Jennifer Nalbone, with the organization Great Lakes United, the vessel general permit actually provided a great opportunity to protect the lakes, but to do so the rule had to take a giant step and not a baby step.

And Andy Buchsbaum of the National Wildlife Federation-Great Lakes Program Office said the EPA rule does not go far enough to protect the lakes from further invasive species.

The Great Lakes region already has at least 180 non-native species in its waters. Many came in when the Welland Canal opened the St. Lawrence Seaway to international freighter traffic. And the states are now fighting a battle to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

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