Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act

Voluntary West Coast vessel slowdown program

If enacted, NOAA would set up the Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program within 12 months, working with the Coast Guard and EPA. The Program would encourage eligible ships to slow down to cut air pollution, greenhouse gases, harmful underwater noise, and whale strike risk. An eligible vessel would be 300 gross tons or larger and must be approved by NOAA to join. NOAA would give annual Excellence Awards to owners whose vessels meet the rules, normally requiring transits at 10 knots or less unless NOAA guidance sets a different maximum. Awarded companies could display an official logo with their name, the award year, and a percent showing miles at or below 10 knots divided by total miles in the Program area, excluding Coast Guard‑directed faster transits. NOAA would study within four years whether to extend the Program to Pacific coast shipping channels from Canada to Mexico. Participation would be voluntary, no new federal funding or financial incentives would be authorized, and nothing in the Program could change navigation safety rules.