46 U.S.C. § 3709

Exemptions

The Secretary may exempt a vessel from the minimum requirements established by sections 3704–3706 of this title for segregated ballast, crude oil washing, and dedicated clean ballast if the Secretary decides that shore-based reception facilities are a preferred method of handling ballast and that adequate facilities are readily available.

( Pub. L. 98–89 , Aug. 26, 1983 , 97 Stat. 524 .)