Project Summary

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Pollution Prevention Research

Within the Federal Community

N. T. Hoagland, J. S. Bridges, and TRC Environmental Corporation

Risk Reduction

Engineering Laboratory

Cincinnati, OH 45268

Research and Development

This project summary describes the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) Waste Reduction Evaluations at

Federal Sites (WREAFS) program to

support pollution prevention (P2) research throughout the Federal community, and the current status on all

projects as of September 1994 is given.

Under the WREAFS program, new techniques and technologies for reducing

waste generation are identified through

joint research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects. The

WREAFS program has cooperatively

supported pollution prevention projects

at facilities within 10 of the Federal

Government’s major departments,

agencies, or offices. The full report describes each WREAFS project completed as of September 1994 and

provides brief synopses of projects ongoing or completed from September

1994 to March 1995.

This Project Summary was developed

by EPA’s Risk Reduction Engineering

Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH, to announce

key findings of the research project

that is fully documented in a separate

report of the same title (see Project

Report ordering information at back).

Introduction

Since 1988, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, Risk Reduction

Engineering Laboratory (RREL) in Cincinnati, OH, has conducted P2 opportunity

assessments (PPOAs) and technology

evaluations or demonstrations, or both at

Federal facilities through its WREAFS program.

The WREAFS program identifies new

technologies and techniques for reducing

wastes from industrial and other processes

performed by Federal agencies and enhances the adoption of P2 through technology transfer. Under the WREAFS

Program, new techniques and technologies for reducing waste generation are

identified through RD&D projects.

The full report describes each project

conducted under the WREAFS program

with a brief description of the facility, the

processes addressed, P2 options identified, needed research, and the status of

implementation of the recommended options (as of September 1994).

Completed Pollution Prevention

Projects

From its inception to September 1994,

the WREAFS program completed 18 joint

efforts: Department of Defense (8); Department of Veteran’s Affairs (1); Department of Transportation (2); Department of

Energy (1); Department of Agriculture (1);

Department of Interior (1); U.S. Postal Service (1); White House Complex (1); Department of Treasury (1) and a

multiple-project interagency effort involving the EPA, Air Force, Army, Navy, and

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Many of the WREAFS

projects for the Departments of Defense

and Energy were funded under the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). Other projects

were funded by the Federal agency or

EPA or both.

These projects identified the processes

and waste streams and then identified reEPA/600/SR-95/061 April 1995
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search opportunities to implement P2 for

a range of military and industrial operations including metal cleaning, solvent

degreasing, spray painting, vehicle and

battery repair, ship bilge cleaning, torpedo

overhaul, buoy restoration, lens grinding,

hospital operations, laboratory analysis,

and mail processing.

Over 130 recommended P2 options

have been identified as a result of these

project, and these options can be readily

adapted to similar processes used by other

Federal facilities or by the private sector.

Table 1 illustrates some of the sites, processes, and waste streams addressed in

the WREAFS program. Each project is

discussed in more detail in the full report.

In addition to the completed WREAFS

projects, several new projects are underway or have been completed since September 1994. These are summarized in

Table 2. Other pollution prevention research projects involving Federal agencies are shown in Table 3.

Conclusions

A number of WREAFS RD&D projects

are completed and a number of efforts

are ongoing. Perhaps the most important

impact, however, will come from any resulting cultural change brought about by

conducing a PPOA or reading an RD&D

report. All Federal agencies must take an

active role in P2 and set examples for

others. The SERDP/WREAFS combination is an excellent illustration of the opportunities available for Federal agencies

to wisely use funding and manpower to

attain the goal of pollution prevention.

The full report was submitted in partial

fulfillment of contract number 68-D2-0181

by TRC Environmental, Inc. under the

sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Table 1. Waste Reduction Evaluation At Federal Sites (WREAFS)

Summary of Completed Projects1

Site Process Waste Streams Sample P2 Options

Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Painting, derusting Paint solids, citric acid, TEA Training, dragout reduction,

2-stage rinsing

Naval Undersea Warfare Design, test, maintain torpedoes Waste Otto fuel II, oil, plating Disposable cuffs, automated fuel tank

Center Keyport Div baths, paint, solvents, acids, draining, modify draining schedule,

pesticides, dye, detergent, spent solvents recover/reuse

chromate and cyanide salts

Tinker AFB Repair, maintenance CFCs, solvents, plating baths Brush plating, MEK substitute,

MEK recovery/reuse

Scott AFB Aircraft maintenance, printed Penetrant, emulsion, developer, Alternate bath replacement, dry silica

circuit board manufacture solvents, paint solids, VOCs, developer, plastic blasting media, dry

reducing agents paint booth, HVLP guns, substitute

reducing agents

AF Plant #6 Steel, aluminum parts TCE Substitute water soluble emulsion

preparation cleaner for TCE

Ft. Riley Battery repair, auto sub- Battery acid, chromium and Recycle battery acid, filter and

assembly rebuilding lead contaminated wastewater recirculate wastewater

Fitzsimmons Army Eyeglass lens manufacturing Solvents, glass fines, lead- Recycle glass fines in ceramics,

Medical Center bearing blocking compound, substitute non-lead blocking alloy,

rinse water filter wastewater

VA Cin-Fort Thomas Hospital operations Disposable supplies Reuse disposables, substitute

Medical Center nondisposables

USCG Support Buoy and vessel maintenance Paint, contaminated blasting HVLP paint guns, plastic blasting

Center New York and refurbishment media, solvents media, solvent recovery/reuse

USCG Base Ketchikan Aids to navigation and Blasting wastes, solvents, Nontoxic paint, floor collector, plastic

vessel maintenance waste paint, oil, bilge, blasting media, HVLP guns, solvent

coolant/antifreeze recycling, solvent substitution, filtration

DOE Sandia National Geotech analysis, printed Solvent, lab trash, rinse water, Test rinse water, eliminate steps,

Laboratories circuit boards made and lead scraps, potting compound use both ends of swabs, eliminate

repaired wastes sample bags

USDA Beltsville Agricultural research Hazardous wastes, acid, base Training, waste segregation,

Agricultural Research Center wastes, solvents equipment/process mods, auto

nitrogen analysis, less solvent in HPLC

DOI Bureau of Mines Metals and minerals research Solvents, combustibles, lead Inventory control, mod research design,

Albany Research Center contaminated concrete, distill and reuse solvents

lab wastes

USPS Buffalo GMF and VMF General mail facility and Paper, plastic, oil, adhesives, Reusable containers, inventory,

vehicle maintenance paints, cafeteria wastes, reusable food service materials,

cleaners, solvents low VOC paints, aqueous cleaners

White House Complex Paint shop, grounds main- Solvents, paint, paper, water use Reduce/recycle solvents, exterior paint,

tenance, HVAC, office moisture sensor, HVAC water recycler,

operations. use recycled paper

TIPPP (Ft Eustis, Langley AFB, All types of base and Chemical materials, land mgt, Inventory control and tracking, pesticide

NASA Langley Research Ctr community functions depainting, solvents, metal mgt, product sub, waste segregation,

Naval Base Norfolk) working, electroplating, solid equip/process modification

and painting wastes

NASA Langley Photo Labs Photoprocessing and X-ray Developers, fixers, bleaches, One print per negative, electrolytic

operations silver-bearing wastes, scrap film, silver recovery with recovery cartridges

photo paper

* The Department of Treasury project is not included.
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Table 2. Summary of WREAFS Projects Ongoing or Completed after September 1994

Project Description

Naval Ophthalmic Support EPA, with technical support from NOSTRA, worked with the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) and its member

and Training Activity (NOSTRA) companies to reduce or eliminate process wastes such as MEK, acetone, methanol, toluene, xylene, TCE, and TCA.

The technical evaluation was funded by the EPA’s RREL. The results of the evaluation will be published in a journal

article.

Naval Station Mayport, Through the Naval Facilities Engineering Services Center (NFESC), implementation of fluid filtration, recovery, and

Jacksonville, FL reuse technologies and rag-use reduction techniques were evaluated for application to the Public Works Operations.

U.S. Air Force Center for Using the data from the PPOAs conducted at the OC-ALC, a lessons learned document has been developed for

Environmental Excellence aircraft repair P2 assessments and demonstrations. The project was funded under SERDP.

(AFCEE)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers PPOAs were conducted at four USACE facilities as models for future assessments at similar types of Corps facilities.

(USACE) The facilities included in the assessment were: a hydropower plant, a repair station, an operational lock and dam

(with ongoing major maintenance occurring within the lock chamber), and a flood control project. The project was

funded under SERDP.

Fort Eustis Army Under the TIPPP program, Fort Eustis has completed a base-wide P2 program plan, which identified a need to

Transportation Center evaluate and upgrade painting, depainting, and corrosion control operations. Several improvements have been

implemented. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of painting and depainting operations is being conducted, beginning

with an inventory analysis of improved chemical agent resistant coating (CARC) painting and depainting operations

to determine the resources used and environmental releases. An impact analysis will determine the environmental

consequences associated with CARC operations, including corrosion control techniques. By evaluating the

environmental consequences, the improvement analysis will identify opportunities which will be implemented and

evaluated on-site. The project is being funded under SERDP.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Joint assessments were conducted for P2 options in aircraft maintenance, aircraft fueling, flight simulators, and

Air Training Center, aircraft cleaning. This project was funded by EPA-RREL.

Mobile, AL

USCG Technology Assessments A study was conducted to provide guidance for the USCG in choosing cost-effective parts cleaning chemicals that

have minimum environmental and safety impacts. The three bases chosen for this study were: Aviation Training

Center (ATC) Mobile, AL; Air Station Cape Cod (ASCC), Falmouth, MA; and Support Center NY (SCNY), Governors

Island, NY. The project was jointly funded by USCG and EPA-RREL.

DOE LCA Design Case Studies As a follow-on to the joint Life Cycle Assessment Research and Development (LCA RD&D), cross-cutting pollution

prevention technologies and methodologies at DOE laboratories are being developed and demonstrated. The

project is jointly funded by SERDP and DOE.

DOE LCA Research and This will build on current DOE/EPA LCA work, which is developing a technical framework, Life Cycle Cost AssessDevelopment Demonstration ment (LCCA) to be included within a life cycle assessment. This project will take the framework to the next phase of

demonstration allowing for further development and refinement of DOE products and processes. The project will be

jointly funded by SERDP and EPA-RREL.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Based in part on the work being done by tribal pueblos, a Pollution Prevention Resource Guide and workshop will be

developed to provide technical assistance on source reduction to Indian tribes and businesses operating on Indian

lands. The project will be funded by RREL.

USPS Pollution Prevention PPOAs are being conducted at six types of postal facilities, including an engineering and research development

Opportunity Assessments center; a stamp distribution center; a bulk mail facility; an area supply depot; a forensics laboratory; and customer

service centers (small, medium, and large post offices). The recommendations should have applicability to other

similar postal facilities throughout the United States. Also, an evaluation was conducted for recycling opportunities

between the USPS and Federal Prison Industries. The project is jointly funded by USPS and EPA-RREL. Technology transfer will be in the form of project reports and an implementation workshop.
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Table 2. (continued)

Project Description

Office of Federal Facility To assist Federal managers in reducing waste generation and emission rates in order to meet compliance objectives

Enforcement (OFFE) - F2P2 by using P2 tools, a manual was produced by the WREAFS program titled, “Federal Facilities Pollution Prevention—

Manual Tools for Compliance.” The project was jointly funded by EPA-RREL and EPA-FFEO.

Office of Federal Facility In a project jointly funded by FFEO and RREL, RREL is providing support to EPA Regions in developing Pollution

Enforcement (OFFE) - Prevention Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPS) under the Federal Facilities Multi-Media Enforcement/

FMECI Support Compliance Initiative (FMECI). As requested, RREL will provide P2 solutions for violations and other identified areas

of noncompliance at Federal sites. The first P2 SEP developed under this program was at Eielson Air Force Base.

NASA Langley Research In performing its mission, LaRC develops composite materials for use in subsonic and supersonic aircraft applica

Center - Dry Powder Towpreg tions. LaRC developed a new dry powder towpreg process to manufacture these composite materials. The process

is a less hazardous way to impregnate carbon fibers with dry powder resin (towpreg) by using powdered polymers to

coat fibers. The TIPPP project is demonstrating this innovative P2 technology and conducting a life-cycle analysis of

its energy and environmental impacts. Final products are being compared with commercially produced products to

determine comparable performance characteristics. The project is jointly funded by EPA and NASA.

NASA Langley Research Under TIPPP, a base-wide assessment of NASA-LaRC operations was conducted and a Pollution Prevention

Center - Pollution Prevention Program Plan for the facility was developed under the WREAFS program. WREAFS continues to support the

Program Implementation implementation of selected projects from the Pollution Prevention Program Plan.
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This Summary was authored by N. T. Hoagland, and J. S. Bridges with the

Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45268, and staff of

TRC Environmental Corporation, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

N. T. Hoagland is the EPA Project Officer (see below).

The complete report, entitled "Pollution Prevention Research Within the

Federal Community," (Order No. PB95-209623; Cost: $27.00, subject to

change) will be available only from:

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Telephone: 703-487-4650

The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:

Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Cincinnati, OH 45268

BULK RATE

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

EPA

PERMIT No. G-35

United States

Environmental Protection Agency

Center for Environmental Research Information

Cincinnati, OH 45268

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use

$300

EPA/600/SR-95/061