House Bill 134 amends AS 46.03 to give the Department of Conservation (DEC) some discretion in monitoring the Alaska Water Quality Standards. New laws governing waste water discharge will take affect in 2010 as the result of the 2007 cruise ship initiative.

There have been misconceptions that this bill will allow a higher level of wastewater discharge. Current onboard technology is not available to meet "at the point of discharge" language which is in current statute. Without passage of HB134, loss of port time will result as ships will have the transit to outer waters to release what is already considered to be a high quality effluent. It is in the interest of our coastal communities to keep the cruise industry in our ports as long as possible.

The House Resources Committee made a number of changes to the bill. CS HB 134 (RES) gives DEC the authority to issue a permit when a ship can’t meet the discharge standards.  This will give the cruise industry time to install the necessary technology when it comes available.  In addition, the bill creates a DEC science advisory panel, which would operate for five years to help the state and cruise industry meet higher discharge standards. House Resources moved the bill out of committee and is awaiting to be heard on the House Floor.