2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook Revision 3-7-12 - Alaska ...

2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
Although this citation is for ships over 500 passengers, there are identical VGP citations for ships with
100 to 500 passengers.
What to check for: Check for discharges of pool and spa wateroverbaord within 3nm. If discharges occur
check that they were dechlorinated and debrominated, and if these levels were measured as required. If
pool or spa water was discharged into the wastewater system, check that chlorine is monitored and
below ADEC GP levels.
Note: Discharges of pool and spa water are prohibited in national parks, federal wilderness areas,
national wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, and national wild and scenic rivers. The largest prohibited
area of interest would likely be Glacier Bay National Park. Because many of these areas have boundaries
that are difficult to determine, please note the position on your report so that ADEC can determine if
the location is in a prohibited area. Many National Parks and wilderness areas only include lands above
the high tide line, although some do include state waters.
Citations:
EPA VGP 5.1.1.2 Pool and Spa Discharges
Discharges of pool or spa water are not authorized into waters listed in Part 12.1 of this permit.
Discharges from pools and spas are authorized into other waters subject to this permit, provided they are
dechlorinated and/or debrominated, and discharged while the vessel is underway. To be considered
dechlorinated, the total residual chlorine in the pool or spa effluent must be less than 100μg/l if the pool or spa
water is discharged without treatment through an advanced wastewater treatment system. To be considered
debrominated, the total residual oxidant in the pool or spa effluent must be below 25μg/l if the pool or spa
water is discharged without going through an advanced wastewater treatment system. Pool and spa water may
be added to the graywater treatment systems, however any resultant discharge must meet all standards and
requirements found in Part 5.1.1.1 and must be debrominated.
EPA VGP 5.1.2.3 Treated Pool and Spa Discharges
Vessel owner/operators must monitor chlorine or bromine concentrations (as applicable) in pool or spa
water before every discharge event using Part 136 methods if they will discharge these streams directly into
waters subject to this permit to assure that the dechlorination process is complete. If vessel owner/operators are
monitoring bromine concentrations, they may use a field test kit which uses the colorimetric method in lieu of Part
136 methods to assure waters have been debrominated, provided that test kit has method detection limit no
higher than 50 μg/L. You must record the location of the discharge, the estimated volume of the discharge, and the
concentration of chlorine or bromine (as applicable). Records of this monitoring must be kept with other graywater
monitoring records.
For chlorine, analytical results below the method detection limit shall be deemed compliant with the
effluent limits, provided the permittee uses a testing method with a detection limit no higher than 10.0 μg/L
under ideal conditions. EPA recommends method SM4500-CL G (DPD Colorimetric Method) for these purposes
as it is able to reach 10 μg/L under ideal conditions and so meets these requirements. SM4500-Cl G is typically
the method that ADEC/USCG uses for compliance monitoring. For bromine, analytical results below the method
detection limit shall be deemed compliant with the effluent limits, provided the permittee uses a testing method
with a detection limit no higher than 50.0 μg/L.
Note- EPA VGP 5.2.2.3 is identical, except that it applies to large cruise ships under 500 passengers.
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