"Nearly identical bills to prevent cruise ships from discharging raw, untreated sewage in U.S. coastal waters were introduced Wednesday in both Houses of Congress.

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin introduced legislation extending the Clean Water Act to regulate the millions of gallons of wastewater discharged in U.S. waters every day by cruise ships.

Durbin's bill, known as the Clean Cruise Ship Act, would ban the release of untreated sewage in U.S. waters, including the Great Lakes. Durbin represents Illinois, a state bordering the Great Lakes.

Similar legislation, also called the Clean Cruise Ship Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Sam Farr, a California Democrat. "

Environment News Service had the story October 22, 2009. [2]