Apr 25, 2008 — The U.S. House of representatives voted 395 to 7 yesterday on legislation to force ocean-going freighters to treat ballast water for invasive species before they enter US waters, like the St. Lawrence River. Ballast water is blamed for introducing foreign species like the zebra mussel, sea lampreys and the round goby. The new regulation sets tough standards for the number and size of living organisms that ships can release when they jettison ballast water. New ships have to have treatment technology by next year; all ships must treat ballast water by 2016. The new standard has support from the Great Lakes shipping industry and several environmental groups. Jennifer Caddick is executive director of Save the River, an environmental group based on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. She spoke with Martha Foley this morning.