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

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;

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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