1CapabilitiesofShipboardBallastWaterTreatmentTechnologyRyanAlbert,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyRichEverett,USCoastGuardPresentationtoEPA’sScienceAdvisoryBoardJuly29,20102RegulatoryApplicability•IntheUnitedStates,ballastwaterdischargesfromvesselsareprimarilyregulatedbytwofederalregimes:–UndertheCleanWaterAct,implementedundertheVesselGeneralPermit(VGP)bytheEPA–UndertheNationalInvasiveSpeciesAct,implementedunderregulationspromulgatedbytheCoastGuard3WhoiscoveredbytheVGP?•VesselswhichdischargeintowatersoftheUnitedStatesneedtohaveanNPDESpermitfortheirdischarge(s),unlesstheyareoneofthefollowingtypesofvessels:–RecreationalVessels,regardlessofsize(asdefinedinCWAsection502(25))–VesselsoftheArmedForces,asdefinedinSection40C.F.R.§1700.3.–Vesselslessthan79feet(unlessdischargingballastwater)–Commercialfishingvesselsofanysize(unlessdischargingballastwater)4VGPApplicabilityavailableat:www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels•Estimatedtocoverapprox.61,000USflaggedcommercialvesselsand8,000foreignflagged•AsofJuly27,2010,morethan50,000NoticesofIntent(NOIs)weresubmittedtoEPA–nearly44,000ofwhichareactive.5USCoastGuardBallastWaterRegulatoryApplicability•Appliestoallvesselswithballasttanks,exceptafewstatutoryexceptions,including:–Crudeoiltankersengagedinthecoastwisetrade–DepartmentofDefenseandCoastGuardVessels6DOD and CoastGuard VesselsRegulatory Overlap of Ballast WaterDischarges for NPDES program and NISAEPAVGPUSCGNISANote: Dischargesfrom RecreationalVessels are regulatedby Section 312 ofthe CWA Recreational Vessels with Ballast TanksMost non-recreational, non-military vessels Oil Tankers in the Coast Wise Trade7VesselCharacteristics(basedonVGPNOIssubmitted)•Vesselsrangefrominlandbargesandtugstooceangoingcontainershipsandtankers–Ballastwatercapacityrangesfrom0tomorethan100,000m3–Ofthe29,000NOIswhichcontainbothtonnageandballastwaterinformation,morethan10,000vesselshavelessthan100cubicmeters– mostofthesevesselsarelessthan2,000GrossTons(GT),butsomeaslargeas40,000GT•Ofthe50,000vesselshavingsubmittedNOIs,approximately16,500reportleavingtheUSExclusiveEconomicZoneand4,400reportbeingengagedinPacificnearshorevoyages–Morethan29,000totalvesselsarebarges– manyareunmannedandunpoweredandtraveleitherinlandorcoastalroutes8CategoryDescriptionAverageBallastCapacity(m3)CapesizeBulker63,000ChemicalCarrier10,700CombinationVessel7,300FeederContainerShip2,900FeedermaxContainerShip3,700GasCarrier11,600GeneralCargoVessel4,500HandyBulker17,700HandyContainerShip8,000HandyTankShip6,400HandymaxTankShip31,500PanamaxBulker35,600PanamaxContainerShip17,200PanamaxTankShip54,100PassengerShip2,600PostpanamaxContainerShip19,100RORO7,700SubpanamaxContainerShip13,900ULCCTankShip93,000VLCCTankShip89,200Minimum2,600Maximum93,000Average(notweighted)24,985The averageballast capacitiesof vessels asdetermined by aUSCG analysisFor a comparison,the volume in anOlympic Sizeswimming pool isabout minimum2,500 m39ExistingVGPBallastWaterLimits•Thepermit:–IncorporatesCoastGuardmandatorymanagementandexchangerequirements–Inaddition,vesselsengagedinPacificnearshorevoyagesmustconductexchangegreaterthan50nmfromthecoast–Mandatorysaltwaterflushingforallvesselswithresidualballastwaterandsediment(NOBOBs)comingfromoutsidetheUSEEZ10ExistingVGPBallastWaterLimits(cont.)•Mustuseshore‐basedtreatmentifavailableandeconomicallypracticableandachievable•Mustconductexchangeasearlyaspracticable•Exchange/flushingrequirementshaveasafetyexemptionanddonotmandatediversion11Technology‐BasedNumericBallastWaterLimits•EPAdidnotrequirenumericballastwaterlimitsinthe2008VGP.Whynot?–Atthetimeofpermitissuance(12/18/2008),EPAfoundtreatmenttechnologiesthatcouldformthebasisforsuchlimitswerenot:•“Available”and•Economicallyachievable–Lackofdatameetingthesetestsasofpermitissuance•SomestatesaddednumericballastwaterlimitsfortheirstatewaterspursuanttoCWA401certification12BWMTechnologyUnitProcesses•Mechanical–Filtration(screen,media*)–Separation(cyclonic,Ionic*)–Shear•Chemical–Deoxygenation(pressure,N2,inertgasgenerators)–Oxidizingbiocides(OCl‐,ClO2,O3,AOT)–Non‐oxidizingbiocides(SeaKlean,gluteraldehyde*,acrolein)•Energy–Radiation(UV,heat,ultrasonic)–Micro‐Cavitation13LivingOrganismStandards•Mostexistingstandardsexpresslimitsasanacceptablevalueoflivingorganisms•Classestypicallyinclude:–>50μm:<10/m3‐<1/100m3–10um– 50μm:<10/ml‐<.01/ml–Microbiologicals(Indicatorbacteria,totalbacteria,andvirusesorvirus‐likeparticles)14Twootherapproaches•“Nodetectablelivingorganisms”(CA)•Requirementsprescribingcertaintreatmentapproaches(MichiganApproach)15ExamplesofstandardssuggestedorusedbytheinternationalcommunityordomesticregulatoryagenciesNARRATIVEDESCRIPTIONSize:≥50μmSize: < 50μm,but≥10μmBacteriaViruses“IMO”< 10 livingorganisms per m3< 10 livingorganisms per mlVibrio cholera< 1 CFU per 100 mlE. coli< 250 CFU per 100 mlIntestinal enterococci< 100 CFU per 100 ml-----“100 x IMO”[1]< 0.1 livingorganisms per m3< 0.1 livingorganism per mlVibrio cholera< 1 CFU per 100 mlE. coli< 126 CFU per 100 mlIntestinal enterococci< 33 CFU per 100 ml-----“1000 x IMO”1< 0.01 livingorganisms per m3< 0.01 livingorganism per mlVibrio cholera< 1 CFU per 100 mlE. coli< 126 CFU per 100 mlIntestinal enterococci< 33 CFU per 100 ml-----“CA InterimStandards”0 detectableliving organisms< 0.01 livingorganism per mlVibrio cholera< 1 CFU per 100 mlE. coli< 126 CFU per 100 mlIntestinal enterococci< 33 CFU per 100 ml< 103bacteria per 100 ml< 104virusesper 100 ml“CA FinalStandards”0 detectableliving organisms0 detectableliving organisms0detectableliving organisms0detectableliving organisms[1]Note – the “100 x” and “1,000 x” refer only to the “≥50 μm” and the “< 50μm, but≥10 μm” size groupings.See Table 1 in the White Paper for more detail16Questions/Discussion17TheStudyCharge•Question1:Designedtoevaluatetheperformanceofshipboardsystemswithavailableeffluenttestingdata–1a.Fortheshipboardsystemswithavailabletestdata,whichhavebeenevaluatedwithsufficientrigortopermitacredibleassessmentofperformancecapabilitiesintermsofeffluentconcentrationsachieved(livingorganisms/unitofballastwaterdischargedorothermetric)?–1b.Forthosesystemsidentifiedin(1a),whatarethedischargestandardsthattheavailabledatacrediblydemonstratecanbereliablyachieved(e.g.,anyorallofthestandardsshowninTable1oftheWhitePaper?Furthermore,dodataindicatethatcertainsystems(astested)willnotbeabletoreliablyreachanyorallofthedischargestandardsshowninthattable?–1c.Forthosesystemsidentifiedin(1a),ifanyofthesystemtestsdetected“nolivingorganisms”inanyoralloftheirreplicates,isitreasonabletoassumethesystemsareabletoreliablymeetorcloselyapproacha“nolivingorganism”standardorotherstandardsidentifiedinTable1oftheWhitePaper,basedontheirengineeringdesignandtreatmentprocesses?18TheStudyCharge•Question2:Designedtoevaluatepotentialperformanceofshipboardsystemswithoutreliabletestingdata–Basedonengineeringdesignandtreatmentprocessesused,andshipboardconditions/constraints,whattypesofballastwatertreatmentsystems(whichmayincludeanyorallofthesystemslistedinTable4oftheWhitePaper)canreasonablybeexpectedtoreliablyachieveanyofthestandardsshowninTable1oftheWhitePaper,andifso,bywhatdates?Basedonengineeringdesignandtreatmentprocessesused,aretheresystemswhichconceptuallywouldhavedifficultymeetinganyorallofthedischargestandardsinTable1oftheWhitePaper?19TheStudyCharge•Question3:Designedtoevaluatefuturesystempotentialperformance–3a.Forthosesystemsidentifiedinquestions1aand2,aretherereasonablechangesoradditionstotheirtreatmentprocesseswhichcanbemadetothesystemstoimproveperformance?–3b.WhataretheprincipaltechnologicalconstraintsorotherimpedimentstothedevelopmentofballastwatertreatmenttechnologiesforuseonboardvesselstoreliablymeetanyorallofthedischargestandardspresentedinTable1oftheWhitePaperandwhatrecommendationsdoestheSABhaveforaddressingtheseimpediments/constraints?Aretheseimpedimentsmoresignificantforcertainsizeclassesortypesoforganisms(e.g.,zooplanktonversusviruses)?Cancurrentlyavailabletreatmentprocessesreliablyachievesterilization(nolivingorganismsorviableviruses)ofballastwateronboardvesselsor,ataminimum,achievezeroornearzerodischargeforcertainorganismsizeclassesortypes?20TheStudyCharge•Question4:Designedtoidentifylimitationsindataandhowweovercomethoselimitations–Whataretheprincipallimitationsoftheavailablestudiesandreportsonthestatusofballastwatertreatmenttechnologiesandsystemperformanceandhowcantheselimitationsbeovercomeorcorrectedinfutureassessmentsoftheavailabilityoftechnologyfortreatingballastwateronboardvessels?21TheStudyCharge•Relatedsub‐questionsofinterest:–Whatiscurrentballastwatertreatmenttechnologycapableofunderbestindustrial‐scalecircumstances?Aretheretechnologicallimits?–Whatmightcurrentballastwatertreatmenttechnologiesbeabletoachieveunderreal‐worldcircumstancesofoperatingships?•Issues:–Space–Power–Time–Conditions(sourcewater,vesseldesign&materials)22Questions/Discussion23OverviewTreatmentTechnologies•Treatmenttechnologies/processessummarizedinreportsbyLloyd’sandABS–Mostbasedonexistingballastwatertreatment•Separation(mostlyscreenfilters,25‐50um,andhydrocyclones,someflocculation)•Non‐chemicalbiocides(ultraviolet,ultrasonic,shear,pressure,heat)•Chemicalbiocides(hypochlorite,ClO2,O3,AO,otherREDOXreactants,non‐REDOXorganics)24OverviewTreatmentConditions•Fullrangeofnaturalsalinities–includinghyper‐saline•FullrangeoforganicandinorganicWQconstituents–includingurbanizedharbors,w&woWQprotections•Tropicaltopolartemperatures•Widerangeof:–Capacities(101– 105m3)–Flowrates(101– 104m3/h)–Availabletime(hours– months)25Challenge:SpaceisLimited2626TreatmentSystemsareComplexNEIAlpha LavalMSI27OperationalIssuesBW TANK CONFIGURATIONS2828BallastSystemsAreComplex29IMOTypeApproval•Conventionrequiresthatballastwatermanagementsystems(=treatmentsystems)usedtomeettheRegulationD‐2dischargestandardbeapprovedbytheAdministration(government)underwhoseflagavesseloperates.•RecommendedapprovalprocedureisdescribedintheGuidelinesforApprovalofBallastWaterManagementSystems(G8)30G‐8ApprovalGuidelines•Typeapproval–A“typeunit”ofatreatmentsystemmodeltestedunder“standardized”testprotocolsinbothland‐basedandshipboardcircumstances•Abilitytoconsistentlyachievethedischargestandardevaluated–Electroniccontrolandmonitoringcomponentssubjectedtostandardizedenvironmentaltesting(vibration,incline,tempandhumidity)–Designandconstructionspecificationsreviewed•Appropriateforshipboard–Manufacturingarrangementsreviewed•Abilitytomanufactureto“type”specifications–Administrationissuestypeapprovalcertificate31G‐8TreatmentEfficacyTestProtocols•Caveats–Negotiatedcompromise•Reflectsmanytechnical,economic,andpoliticalagendas–Relativelyshortpreparationtime–Keysectionsleftvague–Nevervalidatedpriortoimplementation•Differentfixesatdifferentfacilities32G‐8TreatmentEfficacyTestProtocols•Land‐basedtests–Treatmentandcontrol–200m3volumeminimum–200m3/hflow‐rateminimum–Samplesizes•>50um:1m3•10‐50um:1L•Bacteria:500ml–3“replicate”samplesateachtime/location•Beforetreatment,aftertreatment,atdischarge33G‐8TreatmentEfficacyTestProtocols•Shipboardtests–Treatmenttank(s)(multiple??)–Controltank–Volumesandflowsconsistentwithnormaloperationofvessel–3consecutivevalidtestrunsrequired•Uptakeorganismconcentrations>10xD‐2std•Dischargeorganismconcentrations>D‐2std34G‐8Land‐basedSchematicSourceAdjunctsBWTSTanksPumpSamplesTrtCnt3535CONSISTENCY&RELIABILITYAMONGSTTESTFACILITIES,DOMESTICALLY&INTERNATIONALLYNIVA - NorwayGSI - Superior, WITokyo. JapanAlso South Africa, Republic of KoreaMERC -Baltimore, MDNIOZ - Netherlands36G‐8ShipboardSchematicSourceBWTSTanksPumpSamplesTrtCnt37Questions/Discussion38DataPresentedtotheCommittee•Informationdividedintothreemajorgroups:–Summaryreportsproducedbypartiesevaluatingtheavailabilityofexistingballastwatertreatmentsystemsortheirpotentialefficacy–PrimaryperformancedatareportsandotherkeyinformationavailabletoEPAandUSCG–Referencelibraryforthecommittee(IMOG‐9documentsandoneclasssocietyadvisory)39DataPresentedtotheCommitteeSummaryReports•Reportsinclude:–Lloyd’sRegisterReview–AmericanBureauofShipping(ABS)advisory–CaliforniaStateLandsCommissionReports–IMOcircular–ExcerptsfromLeeetal.whitepaper“DensityMatters”•Reportsprovide(someorallofthefollowing)–summaryinformationonspecificsystems–generalinformationonhowsystemswork–presentationandevaluationofsummarydata–conclusionsaboutpotentialcommercialavailabilityofsystems40DataPresentedtotheCommitteePrimaryPerformanceDataandotherInformation•Mostdatacollectedwithintentofultimatelyseekingtypeapproval.Dataarefrom:–datareportsfromthetestingofballastwatertreatmentsystemsprovidedtoforeignAdministrationsingrantingtypeapprovalundertheBWTreatyor–datareportsgatheredbyvendorsinpreparationtoapplyfortypeapprovalbyaflagAdministration,or–applicationpacketspreparedbythevendorandsubmittedtotheUSCGundertheShipboardTechnologyEvaluationProgram(STEP)41DataPresentedtotheCommitteeReferenceLibrary•G9Papers–Submittedforsystemsseekingactivesubstanceapproval•Primarypurposeforpapersistoexplorepotentialactivesubstanceimpactonreceivingwaters–Outlinehowagivenballastwatertreatmentsystemfunctions–Maydiscussmechanismforneutralizingorganisms•ClassNKclasssocietyadvisorydocument42OtherRegulatoryEvaluations(concurrentlybeingconductedorlikelytobeconductedinthenearfuture)•California–Biennialbasis•Staffevaluatedata,seekinputfromanadvisorypanel,determinewhethersystemsarepotentiallyavailabletomeettheirlimits,andseekreportapprovalbycommissioners•Updatedreportmaybefinalizedthissummer•Wisconsin–Requiredbystatelegislation–EvaluationbeingconductedwithadvicefromGreatLakes“BallastWaterCollaborative”•USCoastGuardpracticabilityreviews•USEPABATevaluationfornextVGP43Acquiringcrediblethirdpartydatafromflagadministrationsorvendors•EPAandUSCGhavenotbeenabletogatherallavailabledatafortheSAB’suse–Someflagstateshavebeenunable/unwillingtosharealldatawithUSgovernment,representedbytheCoastGuard–EPAandCoastGuardunabletocontactbroadgroupvendors–Somevendorsunresponsiveregardingsharingdatareportsforthisproject44UseofAdditionalInformation•EPAandUSCGarestronglysupportiveofthecommitteeusingadditional,third‐partydatasubmittedviapubliccommentorintroducedbyanycommitteemember,provideditis:–Peerreviewedpublisheddataor–Third‐Partylaboratorydataorshipboardtestingdatainfinalorsimilarreport45Questions/Discussion46TestingDataConcerns:General•Non‐standardmethodsamongtestfacilities•Lackofavailablefacilityvalidationdocumentation–Abilitytocontrolspec’dconditions–Abilitytomeasurewithacceptableprecisionandaccuracy•LackofavailableQA/QCdocumentationfortests•Independenceoftestersandvendors47•Representativesamples?–Sampleportdesign–Installation•Samplevolume–“replicates”arenotindependent–Volume=1m3,3m3,or9m3depending•Notsufficientformeasuringverylowconcentrations(1/10m3,1/100m3)•Samplingartifacts–SourceofmortalityTestingDataConcerns:Sampling48TestingDataConcerns:Sampling•Sampleanalysis–Viabilityassays–Accuracyandprecisionindetectionandenumeration–Safewindowforprocessing49Questions/Discussion