Environmental Technologies Panel
 Implementation of Recently Generated Emission Factors at the Federal, State and Local Level
Developing Emissions Factors for Electrodes Commonly Used within the Shipbuilding Industry
Development of Shipyard Oil Handling Best Management Practices Guidebook
Spill Prevention Rule Guidebook
Shipyard Environmental Metrics
Residual Risk from Abrasive Blasting Emissions: Particle Size and Metal Speciation
Coordination of Shipbuilding and Repair Industry Response to Environmental Protection Agency Residual Risk
Ballast Water Management
Health Risk Assessment
Modeling of Shipyard Emissions
Metal Products and Machinery Regulation Analysis
Environmental Technology Panel Outreach
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Implementation of Recently Generated Emission Factors at the Federal, State and Local Level
To continue previous efforts which tested and validated emissions factor data, and to assist shipyards with preparing for the new federal emission factor system and support shipyards' initiative of getting newly developed emissions factors (resulting from previous projects) implemented into the federal, state and local regulatory community.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Developing Emissions Factors for Electrodes Commonly Used within the Shipbuilding Industry for use in Regulator Reporting Procedures (completed)
As a proactive measure to assist with the in-progress update to EPA emissions regulation, this effort conducted weld fume sampling and analysis of five electrode/weld process pairs based on their volume of use in the shipbuilding industry, lack of high quality emission factors and their potential for emitting Hexavalent Chromium and Manganese. The results showed that the current EPA emission factor data sets for the analyzed combinations were significantly higher than actual measured emissions. Request report - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Development of Shipyard Oil Handling Best Management Practices Guidebook (completed)
This effort focused on minimizing costs to the shipbuilder (and ultimately, the customer) brought about by environmental regulations. Building on the success of the well-received Spill Prevention Guidebook, this project facilitated efficient and effective compliance with EPA and USCG regulatory requirements and was tailored to the unique issues of a shipyard. Best Management Practices were established based on shipyard and engineering experience. Other benefits included avoiding violations, penalties, duplication of effort, and potentially avoiding spills or releases to the environment. The Guidebook is available to U.S. Shipyards. Request guidebook - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Spill Prevention Rule Guidebook (completed)
The Spill Prevention Rule Guidebook was developed to aid shipyard operators in complying with the revised Environmental Protection Agency rule on oil spill prevention, control and countermeasures. The guidebook assists Environmental Managers in meeting the regulations in an efficient manner while minimizing the risk of accidental discharges of oil from storage facilities and mitigating the impact of spills if they do occur. This guidebook is available to U.S. Shipyards and active NSRP ASE Environmental Panel Representatives. Request guidebook - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Shipyard Environmental Metrics (completed)
Using an industrial engineering and lean manufacturing approach, this project reviewed and evaluated the environmental impacts of production techniques and management systems used in ship production and repair facilities. The most useful environmental performance metrics were selected and used as benchmarks to measure and report future improvements to air/land/water quality, natural resources, time and cost efficiency and management techniques. This effort improved overall facility and environmental compliance resulting in less enforcement and related fines and litigation, more efficient utilization of resources and energy use, and therefore direct and indirect cost savings. The Final Report is available to U.S. Shipbuilding shipyards and members of the NSRP/SNAME Environmental Technologies Panel. Request report - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Residual Risk from Abrasive Blasting Emissions: Particle Size and Metal Speciation (completed)
This project was tasked to generate additional data on PM10/TPM fraction and metal fractions of TPM for total chromium, manganese, nickel and lead. Particle size distribution data (PM10 fraction) and the metal fraction of airborne total PM (TMP) presented in this report will be of great use in correctly determining the inhalation induced health risks or residual risks anticipated from dry abrasive blasting processes. The Final Report provides the results of this study and is available to the public.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Coordination of Shipbuilding and Repair Industry Response to Environmental Protection Agency Residual Risk (completed)
The Clean Air Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the risk remaining (“residual risk”) after the application of control technology standards. EPA has been directed to review, and revise as necessary these standards within 8 years of promulgation, which occurred in 1995. In 2002 the EPA conducted preliminary risk screening of the industry to determine the level of residual risk, if any. The results indicated that potential residual risks existed from shipyards. The industry, led primarily by the two trade organizations, convinced the EPA to conduct more refined modeling. Throughout 2003 and part of 2004 EPA conducted several site visits to shipyards and sent surveys to shipyards asking for detailed information on emissions. During this period EPA determined that the emission factors shipyards were using, specifically those for welding and blasting, were variable and inconsistent. As a result they began assembling their own emission factors to be applied to all shipyards.
In order to conduct site-specific risk assessments of shipyards, EPA will input emission data into air dispersion and risk assessment models based in part on information obtained from the surveys. The results of these model runs will determine if further regulation is warranted to address residual risk from shipyard air emissions. EPA’s primary focus for the Residual Risk Rule has been welding and blasting emission, leading to potential future regulation of these emissions by EPA.
The project assembled a team of shipyard representatives, legal counsel and a risk assessment expert to direct shipyard input into the residual risk rulemaking process. The first phase of the project was to provide industry with specialized expertise to review the data EPA intended to use in its risk modeling for the residual risk analysis. The intent was to make certain that EPA used realistic data and assumptions in its risk modeling. These efforts would also provide technical consultation for the industry on actual model results. The team has been able to ensure that EPA is utilizing good data. Information provided to the EPA on welding rod composition, weld pad test data, the validity of various emission studies, grit composition, and control technology have all served to improve the quality of the information EPA will base its assessment on.
The next phase of this project will ensure that the shipbuilding industry is unified and well coordinated in monitoring the legal process and providing timely comments, as necessary, should EPA proceed with a rulemaking.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Ballast Water Management (completed)
The purpose of this project was to develop comments on a U.S. Coast Guard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking dealing with introduction and dispersal of non-indigenous species to U.S. waters via ballast water discharge. The proposed regulation expanded the ballast water management reporting requirement to all vessels operating in U.S. waters, including tugs, barges and dry docks, regardless of whether they operated outside the U.S. Exclusive Ergonomic Zone. The comments, which challenged the need for a costly reporting requirement for certain types of vessels and shipyard facilities, were provided to the USCG by the April 7, 2003 deadline. Final action on the proposed rule is expected in December 2003.The Final Comments are available to U.S. shipyards only. Request comments - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Health Risk Assessment (completed)
The Environmental Protection Agency recently performed a risk assessment of shipyard emissions which found that 7 out of 10 and 5 out of 10 shipyards exceeded allowable criteria for cancer and non-cancer risks, respectively. The purpose of this project was to develop credible information that would be sufficient to convince the EPA to stop the residual risk assessment that could result in additional, tighter environmental regulations for shipyards. Efforts were made to demonstrate actual shipyard conditions do not reflect the "worst case" scenario modeled by EPA in their screening analysis, indicating that the actual risk is much lower than the EPA calculated risk. The Final Report is available to U.S. shipyards only. Request report - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Modeling of Shipyard Emissions (completed)
The Environmental Protection Agency selected 10 shipyards to evaluate residual risk of emissions based on cancer and non-cancer risks. The project objective was to empower the shipyards with a tool called the Shipyard Risk Model with which they can assess their potential health risks in terms of "risk units" rather than in terms of "emission units." The project, which focused solely on health risks due to shipyard air emissions, developed a simple computer model to assess the potential heath risks based on the air pollutant emissions and their associated toxicity ratings. Both lifetime carcinogenic ratings and lifetime non-carcinogenic ratings were considered in the model design and development. Contact the project lead (Dr. Kura, UNO), regarding obtaining a copy of the software and user manual.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Metal Products and Machinery Regulation Analysis (completed)
(completed)The EPA collected comments on a prospective $100M (or more) EPA Metal Products & Machinery (MP&M) Regulation, which would significantly affect shipyards. The Environmental Studies and Testing Working Group of the Environmental Panel conducted an MP&M analysis and prepared industry comments that could result in the cost avoidance of tens of millions of dollars to the shipbuilding and repair industry.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Environmental Technology Panel Outreach (completed)
The goal of this project was to increase shipyard participation in the Environmental Technology Panel through facilitated strategic planning and effective outreach by demonstrating the value gained through ETP participation. The objective of the project was to develop and implement a strategic plan (goals, roles, responsibilities) and increase participation by 100% over 2001 levels. The project resulted in a 100% increase in attendance at the last meeting over the average for the past 6 years and increased shipyard rep attendance compared to total attendance from 39% for the past 6 years to 51% (20 shipyards represented). The Final Report contains additional results and a Strategic Plan and Communications Plan for the Environmental Technology Panel.
Another aspect of this project was to assess the level of interest among NSRP panel members in a searchable, web-accessible Environmental Laws and Regulation Database. It appears industry's interest level in this area is high. Details can be found in an Engineering Report prepared by Bath Iron Works. Available to U.S. shipyards only. Request report - Please provide your company name, complete mailing address and phone number.
For more information, contact the Panel Chair.
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Last update: 02/01/10
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