Meghan Hodges
The US Navy has been working to address its primary pollution concern: waste discharge from ships. The Navy's Environmental Protection Program has expanded to tackle shipboard pollution problems, with a focus on sewage, oils, litter, bilge water, ballast water, and other polluting substances. The Navy has also been working to comply with international agreements like MARPOL Annex V, which relates to nonfood marine pollution solid waste. Various technologies have been proposed to help achieve compliance, such as compactors and waste bolding systems, but the costs of equipping Navy vessels with these technologies are significant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution concerns | Sewage, oils, litter, bilge water, ballast water, and other polluting substances from ships |
| Water pollution | Oil spills and discharges, sewage |
| Air pollution | None |
| Compliance | Required by the U.S. Congress to comply with the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 |
| Progress | The Navy spent $33 million in 1968 and 1969 on sewage facilities; $17.4 million on the shipboard program between 1968 and 1972; initial estimates indicate a further $300 million in 1974 to backfit ships with waste-holding systems |
| Strategies | Use of compactors, leaving packaging on the dock, compression and crushing of waste, odorproof packaging for food waste |
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What You'll Learn
Ship waste discharge
Regulations and Compliance
The Navy is subject to international agreements and national legislation aimed at reducing ship waste discharge. The 1973/1978 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, along with its accompanying legislation, the Act for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1980 and its subsequent amendments, sets the framework for managing ship waste. Additionally, the U.S. Navy is required to comply with the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987, which specifically addresses plastic waste discharge.
Waste Management Strategies
The Navy has implemented various strategies to minimize waste discharge and comply with regulations. These include:
- Use of Compactors: Compactors help reduce the volume of waste, making it a viable interim solution.
- Leaving Packaging Onshore: By leaving unnecessary packaging onshore, the Navy can minimize the amount of waste generated during a mission.
- Waste Incineration: Studies have been conducted on the incineration of plastics aboard ships, although health exposure concerns remain.
- Waste Storage: In certain cases, waste may need to be stored onboard for the duration of a mission, requiring dedicated space and odorproof packaging if contaminated with food.
- Sewage Treatment: Sewage treatment plants, holding tanks, and disinfection systems are employed to treat and store sewage, with specific regulations prohibiting the discharge of raw or untreated sewage within a specified distance from land.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite these efforts, the Navy faces challenges in ship waste discharge reduction. Reports have indicated a need for better plans and strategies to achieve compliance with regulations. Additionally, the selection of appropriate technology and the management of diverse waste streams continue to be areas of focus for the Navy's waste management programs.
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Health hazards and adverse health effects
The US Navy has been working on pollution control and has been trying to comply with the 1973/1978 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The Navy's Environmental Protection Program is expanding to solve the problems caused by pollution from ships and smaller craft, especially given the large number of vessels. The Navy spent $33 million in 1968 and 1969 on the construction of shore installation sewage facilities, and in the five-year span of 1968-1972, it spent $17.4 million on the shipboard program.
The Navy's current health-hazard assessment process identifies three populations that might be at risk for adverse health effects from exposure to hazardous materials used or encountered in its operations. The first and most restrictive population at risk is active military personnel. This could be expanded to include family members if there is a possibility of exposure outside the occupational setting. The second population includes civilians employed at naval facilities or on ships. The third and most comprehensive population includes the community residing near the naval base, including susceptible subgroups such as pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing diseases.
Exposures are expected to occur through inhalation or dermal contact in most instances. Oral exposure is only expected under accidental conditions or with poor personal hygiene. The Navy must consider work locations on board ships, aircraft, and shore facilities. The adverse health effects may include those encountered from exposure through the nose, eyes, and skin, the potential for causing cancer, the presence of reproductive hazards, and the need for first aid and personal protective devices to reduce exposure risk.
The Navy has also been working on shipboard pollution control, with a focus on eliminating non-food solid waste discharge from ships operating in Special Areas by 2000 for surface ships and 2008 for submarines. The Special Areas designated under international agreements include the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the Antarctic Ocean, with the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea expected to be designated in the future.
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Environmental impact of naval bases
Naval bases, like other military bases, are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, flooding, drought, wildfires, and desertification. These environmental changes can impact the physical security and operational capabilities of naval bases, affecting national security and stability.
Naval bases also face unique environmental challenges due to their maritime nature. The primary pollution concern of the navy relates to ship waste discharges, particularly the release of plastics and other solid waste into the ocean. The US Navy, for example, is required to comply with the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987, which includes a "no floating waste, no plastic waste" standard. To meet these requirements, the Navy has considered various waste management strategies, such as the use of compactors and leaving packaging onshore.
The incineration of plastics aboard ships has been studied, but this method results in higher levels of dioxins and furans, which can have adverse health effects on active military personnel, their families, civilians employed at naval facilities, and communities residing near naval bases. The Navy's Health-Hazard Assessment Process aims to address these risks by evaluating the potential health hazards of hazardous materials used or encountered in its operations.
Additionally, naval bases often require significant cleanup and remediation efforts when they are closed or realigned. For example, the Long Beach Naval Station in California added an estimated $221 million to the Department of Defense's priority requirements for environmental cleanup, including the removal of underground storage tanks and addressing asbestos and lead-based paint issues.
Overall, the environmental impact of naval bases is a complex issue that involves pollution control, waste management, and the mitigation of climate change effects, all of which are critical for maintaining the security and health of naval personnel and the surrounding communities.
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Compliance with international agreements
The Navy has taken several steps to comply with international agreements and reduce its environmental impact. For instance, in 1967, a comprehensive survey of water and air pollution from naval activities was conducted, leading to the preparation of five-year requirements for water and air pollution control. This resulted in the Navy investing $33 million in 1968 and 1969 on the construction of shore installation sewage facilities, marking the first tangible efforts of the pollution abatement program.
The Navy has also worked to address shipboard pollution by exploring technological solutions. In 1993, the Navy considered the use of compactors as an interim solution to waste management, and the committee has recommended reexamining this technology to achieve compliance with MARPOL Annex V before the year 2000. The use of compactors could help minimize the amount of waste that needs to be stored, and the USS Kamehameha has successfully reduced its waste generation by approximately 60% through similar measures.
Additionally, the Navy has proposed amendments to the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, seeking to extend the compliance date regarding the discharge of plastics and to adopt a special area standard of "no floating waste, no plastic waste." The Navy has also issued studies addressing the incineration of plastics aboard ships, finding higher levels of dioxins and furans when incinerating 100% plastic waste.
While the Navy has made progress in complying with international agreements and reducing pollution, there are still challenges to be addressed. The cost of equipping Navy vessels with treatment devices to meet pollution control needs is significant, and the technology required to operate "clean" ships is still being developed. Accurate cost estimates for installation are not yet available, but initial projections indicate high expenses, with the Navy expected to spend $300 million in 1974 on backfitting ships with waste holding systems.
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Pollution prevention technology
The US Navy has been working on pollution prevention technology as part of its Environmental Protection Program. The Navy's pollution prevention efforts are driven by a mix of Navy management, congressional mandate, international agreements, environmental community concerns, and technology.
In the past, the lack of technology to address vessel pollution was a roadblock to progress, but now, the Navy is actively developing and implementing solutions. For instance, the Navy has considered the use of compactors and the systematic, fleet-wide use of compaction to minimize waste. This includes leaving packaging on the dock and using odor-proof packaging for waste contaminated with food.
The Navy has also invested in the construction of shore installation sewage facilities, spending $33 million between 1968 and 1969. Additionally, the Navy plans to spend $300 million in 1974 to backfit ships with waste-holding systems, with costs of $1 million per destroyer and $4 million per carrier.
To address shipboard pollution, the Navy has formed the Committee on Shipboard Pollution Control under the Naval Studies Board. The committee aims to eliminate non-food solid waste discharge from Navy ships operating in Special Areas by 2000 for surface ships and 2008 for submarines. This includes compliance with MARPOL Annex V, which covers non-food marine pollution solid waste.
The Navy has also proposed amendments to the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, seeking to extend the compliance date for the discharge of plastics and adopt a "no floating waste, no plastic waste" standard.
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Frequently asked questions
The Navy's primary pollution concern is ship waste discharges, including sewage, oils, litter, bilge water, ballast water, and other polluting substances.
The Navy has implemented various programs to address ship waste discharges, including the Environmental Protection Program and the Shipboard Program. They have also invested in the construction of shore installation sewage facilities and are working towards equipping Navy vessels with waste holding systems to meet pollution control needs.
The Navy is required to comply with international agreements such as MARPOL Annex V, which prohibits the discharge of non-food solid waste materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard, in certain designated Special Areas. The U.S. Congress has also mandated compliance through the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 and its subsequent amendments.
The Navy is exploring various technological solutions, such as compactors and waste compaction systems, to minimize and manage waste on board ships. They are also working on identifying pollution problems and coordinating effective remedial programs through the Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
