[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60137-60138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30064]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 96-063]


Incineration of Solid Waste Aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutters; 
Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed 
installation of marine incinerators on board certain classes of cutters 
(vessels larger than 65 feet in length) for the purpose of burning 
shipboard solid waste and waste oil to mitigate its accumulation. The 
EA analysis provides the basis for concluding that there will be no 
significant impact on the marine environment and that preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary. This notice 
announces availability of the EA and proposed FONSI and solicits 
comments.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Commanding Officer (ELC code 
016), 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21226-5000, or may be 
delivered to the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST, Monday 
through Friday, except Federal Holidays. The telephone number is (410) 
636-3585, and FAX (410) 636-7379.
    Copies of the EA and proposed FONSI may be obtained by contacting 
Mr. Hari Bindal at (410) 636-3585 or faxing a request to (410) 636-
7379. Copies of EA and FONSI are also available for inspection at the 
office of the Commanding Officer, Engineering Logistics Center (ELC 
016), 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21226-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Hari Bindal, Environmental Protection Specialist, (410) 636-3585.

Request for Comments

    Copies of EA and proposed FONSI are available as described under 
ADDRESSES. The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to comment on 
these documents. The Coast Guard will consider these comments prior to 
finalizing the proposed FONSI and prior to making a decision to 
implement installation of incinerators aboard its cutters. If comments 
are received that merit revision of the EA, the EA will be revised 
before finalizing the FONSI.

Background

    U.S. Coast Guard's major missions are: Law Enforcement, Defense 
Operations, Search and Rescue, Ice Operations, Marine Science, 
Pollution Response, and Aids to Navigation. To accomplish these 
missions, USCG operates a fleet of boats and cutters on the U.S. 
domestic and international waters. Cutters having designed endurance of 
5 days or more, and with a crew of more than 50, face problems with 
shipboard generated solid waste (trash, garbage) and waste oil. Some of 
the Coast Guard cutters voyage for a period up to 180 days between port 
visits, and carry a crew of over 200. The International Convention for 
the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the U.S. Act to 
Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) prohibit disposal of plastics 
anywhere at sea and restrict discharge of other waste to certain 
distances from shore. MARPOL also has designated certain special areas 
where waste discharge regulations are more stringent. To comply with 
MARPOL, APPS, and other environmental laws and regulations, Coast Guard 
cutters must either store and carry the waste back to port, or install 
on-board disposal devices which comply with these regulations. Given 
that cutters have very limited storage space, and to provide for 
healthy and safe conditions for the crew, the Coast Guard considered 
several alternatives, and has proposed incinerators as the means to 
handle the shipboard solid waste.
    This environmental assessment (EA) was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; and the Coast Guard's 
NEPA Implementing Procedures, to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts of the proposed installation of incinerators on certain classes 
of Coast Guard cutters. Other International and U.S. Laws which apply 
to the use of incinerators on ships include: The Antarctic Treaties; 
Clean Air Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; Coastal Zone 
Management Act;

[[Page 60138]]

Endangered Species Act; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act; Clean Water 
Act; and Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act.
    Other alternatives for shipboard solid waste and waste oil handling 
considered by the Coast Guard were: (1) No Action; (2) Retention and 
Transfer; (3) Recycling; and (4) Volume Reduction by using Compactors, 
Pulpers, and Shredders. These alternatives do not provide a complete 
solution to the problem, since either the waste still requires some 
storage on board, or the waste is discharged at sea without sufficient 
treatment. Therefore, incineration was selected as the preferred 
alternative.
    The EA investigated impacts of incineration on the physical 
environment (hydrologic and geographic features); biological 
environment (marine mammals, sea turtle, fish, invertebrates, coastal 
and marine birds, plankton, and benthos); and the atmosphere (ambient 
air qualify, global warming, and ozone depletion). These factors were 
considered for all areas of operation, including MARPOL special areas.
    Air emission tests were conducted on a prototype incinerator, 
installed on a Coast Guard cutter. Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen 
oxides (NOX), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Volatile organic 
compounds (VOCs), Dioxins and Trace metals in the flue were measured 
and analyzed. Residue ash was analyzed for trace metals. All analyzed 
constituents were found to be below the International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) shipboard incinerator standards and Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) standards for municipal incinerators. An air 
dispersion model was used to analyze the impact of trace pollutants on 
the sea surface. The concentrations were insignificant.
    The EA concludes that the concentrations of pollutants generated by 
the proposed installation of incinerators on board certain classes of 
Coast Guard cutters are low enough that the physical, biological, and 
atmospheric effects on the marine environment are significant for all 
areas of operation. Consequently, an Environmental Impact Statement is 
not required.

    Dated: September 19, 1996.
Gregory B. Kirkbride,
CDR, USCG, USCG Engineering Logistics Center, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. 96-30064 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M