The U.S. Senate voted to extend a moratorium on an EPA regulation which could affect nearly every commercial fishing boat in Cook Inlet if the current embargo were to expire.

With eight days to go before the vessel discharge rule is set to expire, a bill introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, passed unanimously and is headed to the U.S. House for a vote before the current session ends.

Senators approved a three-year moratorium on a portion of the EPA’s Clean Water Act that would change discharge regulations for fishing vessels shorter than 79 feet and fish processors. United Fishermen of Alaska Executive Director Julianne Curry said she expects the House to pass the measure on Thursday.

Curry said the language of the current regulation is so broad that it would apply to nearly any liquid that could be emitted from a boat.

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