                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 28.2-109)

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Ballast water&#8221; means any water or matter taken on board a vessel
to control or maintain trim, draft, stability or stresses of the vessel, without
regard to the manner in which it is carried.
		&#8220;Commercial vessel&#8221; means a self-propelled ship in commerce of 300
gross tons or more. The term &#8220;commercial vessel&#8221; does not include a
vessel of the United States Department of Defense or United States Coast Guard
subject to the requirements of § 1103 of the National Invasive Species Act of
1996, or any vessel of the Armed Forces, as defined in 33 U.S.C. § 1322
(a)(14), that is subject to the uniform national discharge standards for vessels
of the Armed Forces under 33 U.S.C. § 1322 (n).
		&#8220;Federal guidelines&#8221; means the provisions of 33 C.F.R. Part 151,
Subpart D, &#8220;Ballast Water Management for Control of Nonindigenous Species
in Waters of the United States.&#8221;
		&#8220;Operator&#8221; means any person who owns, operates, charters, rents or
otherwise exercises control over or responsibility for a vessel.

HISTORY: 2001, c. 312.