Alaska sues to block low-sulfur fuel requirement for ships

Source: Reuters

Alaska sues to block low-sulfur fuel requirement for ships

By Yereth Rosen
ANCHORAGE, Alaska | Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:00pm EDT

(Reuters) - The state of Alaska sued the Obama administration on Friday to block environmental regulations that would require ships sailing in southern Alaska waters to use low-sulfur fuel.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, challenges the new federal regulations, which require the use of low-sulfur fuel for large marine vessels such as cargo and cruise ships.

The rule is scheduled to be enforced starting on August 1 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard for ships operating within 200 miles of the shores of southeastern and south-central Alaska, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit faults the EPA, the Department of Homeland Security and others for using a marine treaty amendment as the basis for the new federal regulations without waiting for ratification of that amendment by the U.S. Senate.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/14/us-usa-energy-alaska-idUSBRE86D02D20120714