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

2012 Ocean Ranger Guidebook 3-7-12
Background: The addition of hazardous waste to a water body is prohibited. Current AWTS and OWS
technology does not treat many of these substances well or at all. Adding toxic wastes has and will cause
damage to a wastewater treatment system, particularly those with biological processes. Under the EPA
VGP vessel operators may not add substances that drain to the bilgewater that are not produced in the
normal operation of a vessel. During overhauls and cleaning operations, noxious liquid substances may
enter the bilge system. Possible operations that use chemicals are the EVAP cleaners , plate cooler
cleaners, air cooler cleaners etc. Most vessels do take precautions that during the maintenance
operations so that these substances are not entering the bilge areas. OR should observe and document
all maintenance activities and related actions.
Citations:
EPA VGP for vessels over 500 passengers:
5.1.1.1.4 Other Materials
Waste from mercury containing products, dry cleaners or dry cleaner condensate, photo processing labs, medical
sinks or floor drains, chemical storage areas, and print shops using traditional or non-soy based inks and
chlorinated solvents must be prevented from entering the ship’s graywater, blackwater, or bilgewater systems if
water from these systems will ever be discharged into waters subject to this permit. Preventing these wastes from
entering these systems can be accomplished by plugging all drains that flow to the graywater, blackwater, or bilge
systems in areas where these wastes are produced and creating alternate waste receptacles or replumbing drains
to appropriate holding tanks.
Vessel owner/operators must not discharge any toxic or hazardous materials, including products containing
acetone, benzene, or formaldehyde into salon and day spa sinks or floor drains if those sinks or floor drains lead to
any system which will ever be discharged into waters subject to this permit. This includes using these materials on
passengers (or crew) and rinsing residuals into these sinks. Alternate waste receptacles or holding tanks must be
used for these materials. Additions of these materials to any systems which will discharge into waters subject to
this permit is a permit violation.
AS 46.03.710. Pollution prohibited.
A person may not pollute or add to the pollution of the air, land, subsurface land, or water of the state.
AS 46.03.745. Hazardous substance release.
Except for a controlled release, the reporting of which is the subject of an agreement with the
commissioner under AS 46.09.010 (b), a person may not cause or permit the release of a hazardous
substance as defined in AS 46.09.900 .
AS 46.09.900. Definitions.
(4) "hazardous substance" means (A) an element or compound that, when it enters into or on the surface or subsurface land or
water of the state, presents an imminent and substantial danger to the public health or welfare, or to fish, animals, vegetation,
or any part of the natural habitat in which fish, animals, or wildlife may be found; or (B) a substance defined as a hazardous
substance under 42 U.S.C. 9601 - 9657 (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980);
"hazardous substance" does not include uncontaminated crude oil or uncontaminated refined oil;
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