— — The federal government has proposed setting limitations on shipping vessels in response to an influx of invasive species coming into the Great Lakes over the last several decades.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will introduce a federal permit to contend with discharges of ballast water, a normal practice of freighters and other large vessels. Ballast water is collected onboard a ship and stored in tanks to add weight to ships to support stability. It is discharged as cargo is loaded and can be fresh or salt water.

The permit would limit the number of invasive species dumped in the Great Lakes and other bodies of water, including the St. Lawrence Seaway, according to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Schneiderman also indicated that many of the EPA standards are linked to the International Maritime Organization, which he says are not strict enough to prevent the spread of invasive organisms.

Currently, conservation groups and governmental entities peg the damage of the non-native species to U.S. waterways at $200 million a year.

International vessels are the leading cause of invasive species, which endanger existing native plants and wildlife and bears a heavy cost for the shipping industry and municipals.

Zebra Mussels, for instance, can be particularly troubling as entities such as water treatment facilities spend time and money removing the Russian natives from pipes that become clogged from overpopulation, according to the Jennifer Nalbone, of Great Lakes United in Buffalo.

The stricter permitting was a byproduct of a March settlement, after a lawsuit was brought against the EPA by conservation groups in 2009. The process will be initiated by November 2012. The EPA will accept public comments on the issue for 75 days.

The permits will require vessels to install technology to increase safeguards against the species, Nalbone said.

“In a nutshell we want stronger standards than the EPA is showing,” she said. “But the good thing is it allows states to take stronger efforts.”

New York often leads the way in tougher regulations, Nalbone added. While international vessels are by far the largest carrier of outside wildlife, domestic vessels also have an influence. For instance, the Eurasian Ruffe, prevalent in Lake Superior but not yet found in Western New York waterways could become a problem. Nalbone also urged tougher standards for domestic vessels traveling only in the Great Lakes, called “Lakers.”

“Lake Erie is an important fish habitat,” she said. “Invaders to Lake Erie are seen quite dramatically. The Eurasian Ruffe is a fish that will probably thrive here.”

Recent legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would also adopt the weak standards and eliminate EPA authority to require more protections under the Clean Water Act, as well as states’ authority to create more stringent requirements under tougher state laws, according to Andy Buchsbaum, director of the National Wildlife Federation-Great Lakes Program Office.

“The proposed EPA permit is a step in the right direction, but it still doesn’t shut the door on invasive species,” he said in a statement. “On the positive side, it sets numerical limits for ballast water discharges and maintains the rights of states to add additional protections. But EPA’s proposed standard still allows the discharge of invasive organisms into the Great Lakes and the nation’s waters at significant levels. That’s simply not acceptable.”