b'NEWSWIRE:VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT APPLY NOW forNEWSWIREAnnual Report MUST BEMARAD SMALL FILED by FEBRUARY 28 SHIPYARD VAvesseloperatorsmustsubmituntilthelastminutehaveencounteredGRANTS, P onlinetotheEnvironmentaldifficulties with the online system. Applications DUEProtection Agency (EPA) an Annual Report for each vessel subject to coverageA copy of the Annual Report can found undertheVesselGeneralPermit(VGP)atpages181-189oftheFinal2013by FEBRUARY 25by February 28, 2021.The report coversVGP.The 2013 VGP is the current and activitiesconductedduringthe2020mostrecentversionoftheregulationforThe Small Shipyard Grant Program overseen by calendar year.compliance.This link https://www.epa. the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/vessels-vgpisnowacceptingproposalsforfunding.The VGP applies to any commercial vessel ofcontains a copy of the Final 2013 VGP. ThedeadlinetoapplyisFebruary25,2021.79 feet or greater in length, or a vessel of anyMARAD will distribute $19.6 million in the size that discharges ballast water.It provides FormostPVAmemberswithnoballastcurrent fi scal 2021 funding round in late April.authorityforthedisposalofwastewaterswater discharges, the Annual Report itself (otherthansewageeffluent)generatedwillberelativelysimpletocomplete.AEach year, several PVA Associate Members that incidentallyduringtheoperationsofthefewoperatorsofnewly-builtvesselsofoperateshipyardshavesuccessfullycompeted vessel. 400grosstonsormore,mediumcruiseforfundsunderthispopularprogram.ships,andlargecruiseshipsmayhaveAccordingly, PVAs legislative agenda includes A Small vessel of less than 79 feet on lengthtofi outtheadditionalgraywaterandlladvocacy for full funding for the Small Shipyard ispermanentlyexemptfromtheVGPbilgewater monitoring requirements. ThisGrant Program.requirements(unlessitdischargesballastlinkhttps://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/water).Responding to advocacy eff orts byvgpenoi/f?p=102:101::::::providesanAn applicant may submit a grant proposal to PVA and others, Congress passed a law inentry into the Electronic Reporting System(1)makecapitalandrelatedimprovements December 2018 making it the small vessel(a username and password are needed); theretoqualifi edshipyardfacilitiestopromote exemption permanent.is link for help if you have lost or forgottenefficiency, competitive operations, and quality your username and password. ship construction, repair, and reconfi guration, File the Annual Report well in advance ofand/or(2)providetrainingforworkersin thedeadline,assometimesfi waitingQuestionsforEPAregardingtheVGPlersshipbuilding,shiprepair,andassociated electronicreportingsystem?sendthemindustries.to:VGPeNOI@epa.gov.The federal grant can cover up to 75 percent of the projects cost (although an application proposingahighernon-federalcost-share may have an easier time of being selected for approval).Historically, the program has selected roughly 15- 30 applications for funding with an average grant amount of about $1 million.The number of applicants each year always exceeds the amount of funding that can be awarded.An eligible shipyard facility must be in a single RELIABLE POWER FOR Ageographiclocationandhavefewerthan DEMANDING SCHEDULE 1,200 production employees.A Buy America statutory provision applies to the use of funds Your business cant compromise when it comes toawardedundertheSmallShipyardGrant maintaining a demanding schedule. Thats why customers count on reliable John Deere PowerTechProgram.Grants may not be used to construct marine engines. With high torque and low-rated rpm,buildings or other physical facilities or to acquire John Deere engines deliver dependable power andland.quiet operation.For additional information, contact MARADs Full power range of marine engines 60 to 559 kw (80 to 750 hp) OfficeofShipyardsandMarineEngineering.JohnDeere.com/Marine The phone number is (202) 366-5737.NEWSWIRE 38 FOGHORN'