[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29717-29718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14287]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Garbage Discharges for Navy Ships in MARPOL Annex V 
Special Areas

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Defense must report annually on the amount 
and nature of garbage discharges from Navy ships operating in special 
areas, when such discharges are not otherwise authorized under the Act 
to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), 33 U.S.C. 1901, et seq. This 
notice is the fourth 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 654, 2211 South Clark Place, 
Arlington, Virginia, 22244-5108, telephone 703-602-2602.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Convention on the 
Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL) as amended by the MARPOL 
Protocol of 1978, protects the ocean environment by prohibiting some 
discharges altogether, restricting other

[[Page 29718]]

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.
    The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships 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. 
APPS 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.
    This Federal Register notice is the fourth of the required annual 
reports. This report covers the period between 1 August 1996 and 31 
July 1997. The end date of July 31st is necessary to allow time for 
data collection and report preparation. During the period 1 August 1996 
through 31 July 1997 there were no garbage discharges from Navy ships 
into MARPOL Annex V special areas that were not authorized under MARPOL 
Annex V.

    Dated: May 18, 1998.
Lou Rae Langevin,
LT, JAGC, USN, Alternate Federal Register, Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-14287 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
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