JUNEAU, Alaska - The Alaska House has passed legislation that critics say would roll-back requirements that cruise ships meet state water quality standards when dumping wastewater.
The 27-9 followed unsuccessful efforts, led by minority Democrats, to amend HB80, including requiring the location, date and volume of discharged wastewater is posted online.
The proposal, from Gov. Sean Parnell, would change how the state regulates wastewater from cruise ships.
Parnell's Environmental Conservation commissioner, Larry Hartig, has said the measure would align rules for cruise ships with those for others that get discharge permits from the agency. Critics say it would reduce protections set out in a 2006 citizen initiative that required cruise ships to meet state water quality standards when dumping wastewater.
