The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Vessel General Permit (VGP) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) with discharges of pollutants incidental to their normal operation, including but not limited to ballast water discharges, for all vessels with their length of 24 meters (79 feet) or longer, except fishing vessels, which intend to navigate within 3 miles from U.S. territorial waters after 6 February 2009.

New York State notifies that each vessel covered under the VGP that operates in New York waters shall have a ballast water treatment system that meets the standards prescribed by the states by not later than 1 January 2012.
Furthermore, new ships which are constructed on or after 1 January 2013 covered under the VGP that operates in New York waters shall have a ballast water treatment system that meets more stringent standards prescribed by the state. Summary of the standards are described below.