[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29681]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 Office of the Secretary

 

Garbage Discharges From Navy Ships in MARPOL Annex V Special 
Areas

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under Section 1003 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1994, Public Law 103-160, the Secretary of Defense must 
report annually in years 1994 through 2000 on the amount and nature of 
garbage discharges from Navy ships operating in special areas, when 
such discharges are not otherwise authorized under Annex V of the 
International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 
(MARPOL). This notice is published to comply with the act and is the 
first annual report.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Louis Maiuri, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental 
Protection, Safety and Occupational Health Division, Crystal Plaza #5 
Room 678, 2211 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia, 22244-
5108, 703-602-2562.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Convention on the 
Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL), 1973, as amended by the 
MARPOL Protocol of 1978, protects the ocean environment by prohibiting 
some discharges altogether, restricting other discharges to particular 
distances from land, and establishing ``special areas'' within which 
additional discharge limitations apply. Special areas are particular 
bodies of water which, because of their oceanographic characteristics 
and ecological significance, require protective measures more strict 
than other areas of the ocean. Within special areas that are in effect 
internationally, except under emergency circumstances the only 
authorized garbage discharge from vessels is food waste. At present, 
three special areas are in effect: the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and 
the Antarctic Region.
    Section 1003 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 1994, Public Law 103-160, 107 Stat. 1745, established deadlines 
for compliance by U.S. Navy ships with the Annex V special area 
requirements. Surface ships must comply with the special area 
requirements by December 31st of the year 2000. Submarines must comply 
with the special area requirements by December 31st of the year 2008. 
The Act further requires the Secretary of Defense to report in the 
Federal Register the amount and nature of Navy ship discharges in 
special areas, not otherwise authorized under MARPOL Annex V. Such 
reports are to be submitted on October 1 of the years 1994 through 
2000.
    This Federal Register notice is the first of the required annual 
reports. This report covers the period between November 30th 1993 (the 
date on which the National Defense Authorization Act was enacted), and 
July 31st 1994. The end date of July 31st is necessary to allow time 
for data collection and report preparation. Subsequent year reports 
will cover the period from August 1st through July 31st. During the 
period of November 30, 1993 through July 31, 1994, there were no 
garbage discharges from Navy ships into MARPOL Annex V special areas 
that were not authorized under MARPOL Annex V.

    Dated: November 29, 1994.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 94-29681 Filed 12-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M