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Acronyms and Definitions

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q| R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

ASWIPCA—Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators

At sea/open ocean—Ocean limit defined as greater than 12 nautical miles from shore. (See also contiguous zone).

B

Ballast water—Seawater is used by vessels to provide stability, to adjust the vessel's draft for various loading conditions, and to position the ship to on-load or off-load amphibious vehicles. Generally, seawater is provided to the ballast tanks by a combination of flooding from the sea through valves in the tanks and from the firemain.

Clean ballast—Seawater taken into, and discharged from, dedicated ballast tanks to maintain the stability of the vessel and to adjust the buoyancy of submarines.

Bilgewater [Surface Vessel Bilgewater/Oil-Water Separator Effluent]—The wastewater from a variety of sources that accumulates in the lowest part of the vessel (the bilge), and the effluent produced when the wastewater is processed by an oil water separator.

Boiler blowdown—Periodically, water must be removed from a boiler to control buildup of particulates, sludge, and treatment chemical concentration. The process of removing this water is referred to as boiler blowdown. Boiler blowdown can also refer to the discharged water itself.

C

Chain Locker Effluent—The accumulated precipitation and seawater that is emptied from the compartment used to store the vessel’s anchor chain.

ChAR—Characterization Analysis Report—Phase I results, Phase II sampling, literature searches, and input from ship systems experts are used to describe the physical and chemical properties of each discharge. This analysis is documented in a Characterization Analysis Report (ChAR) identifying the chemical constituents, constituent concentrations, flow rates, and other parameters.

CIA—Cumulative Impact Analysis—Considers environmental impacts that are the result of multiple discharges from multiple vessels into one or more ports. These impacts, including some which are more complex than near-field acute toxicological effects addressed in the environmental effects analyses, are considered for all discharges of a batch, including the discharges of any prior batches.

Compensated fuel ballast—Seawater taken into, and discharged from, ballast tanks designed to hold both ballast water and fuel to maintain the stability of the vessel.

Contiguous zone—The zone of the ocean extending from 3 nautical miles (nm) to 12 nautical miles from shore.

Cooling water—Most vessels use seawater to remove heat from vessel systems. The seawater is drawn from the ocean either directly via a hull connection (sea chest), or indirectly via the firemain pump and passed through a heat exchanger. The seawater is then discharged back into the ocean, usually below the waterline.

CWA—Clean Water Act

CZMA—Coastal Zone Management Act

D

DAR—Discharge Assessment Report—Report summarizing all of the Phase II analytical results from the technical analyses (ChAR, EEAR, and FIAR) for each discharge. The DAR also includes an evaluation of applicable U.S. laws and international standards, and is used to assist the Navy and EPA in the development of MPCD performance standards.

DAT—Discharge Assessment Team—Collaborative group of Navy, EPA, USCG, and other interested Federal organizations responsible for a single discharge. Its function is to conduct technical analyses and develop the technical documents required by the UNDS Phase II technical process. The DATs also compile sections of the Phase II Technical Development Document.

Dirty ballast—The seawater taken into, and discharged from, empty fuel tanks to maintain the stability of the vessel.

DoD—Department of Defense

E

ECOS—Environmental Council of States

EEAR—Environmental Effects Analysis Report—Results from the environmental effects analysis (EEA) assessing the environmental impacts of both the controlled and uncontrolled discharge are documented in an Environmental Effects Analysis Report (EEAR). The EEAR includes comparisons of discharge parameters to water quality criteria or other regulatory limits, annual mass loadings, and toxicity. Additionally, the potential for the release of bioaccumulators, human pathogens, or nonindigenous species is assessed.

Elevator Pit Effluent—The liquid that accumulates in, and is discharged from, the sumps of elevator wells on vessels.

EPA—Environmental Protection Agency

ESA—Endangered Species Act—Federal agencies must consult with Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) representatives to ensure their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of threatened species or adversely modify designated critical habitats (Section 7).

F

FIAR—Feasibility Impact Analysis Report—Each MPCD option group that passes the screen is analyzed to determine the practicability, operational impacts, and the costs of installing and using the MPCD on Armed Forces vessels. A Feasibility Impact Analysis Report (FIAR) documents the analysis results

FWS—Fish and Wildlife Service—is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

G

GIS—Geographic Information System

Graywater—Galley, bath, and shower water, as well as wastewater from lavatory sinks, laundry, interior deck drains, water fountains, and shop sinks.

H

Hull coating leachate—The constituents that leach, dissolve, ablate, or erode from the paint on the hull into the surrounding seawater.

M

MPCD—Marine Pollution Control Devices—any equipment or management practice designed to treat, retain, or control discharges incidental to the normal operation of an Armed Forces' vessel.

MSD—Marine Sanitation Devices—devices used to control or process sewage.

N

Navigable waters—As defined by 40 CFR 110.1, means the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas. The term includes:

(a) All waters that are currently used, were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide;

(b) Interstate waters, including interstate wetlands;

(c) All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, and wetlands, the use, degradation, or destruction of which would affect or could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters:

  1. That are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes;
  2. From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce;
  3. That are used or could be used for industrial purposes by industries in interstate commerce;

(d) All impoundments of waters otherwise defined as navigable waters under this section;

(e) Tributaries of waters identified in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this definition, including adjacent wetlands; and

(f) Wetlands adjacent to waters identified in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this definition:
Provided, that waste treatment systems (other than cooling ponds meeting the criteria of this paragraph) are not waters of the United States.

NDAA—National Defense Authorization Act

NMFS—National Marine Fisheries Service - is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NMFS, also known as "NOAA Fisheries", administers domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources. NMFS provides services and products to support domestic and international fisheries management operations, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance activities, enforcement, protected species and habitat conservation operations, and the scientific and technical aspects of NOAA's marine fisheries program.

NOAA—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - tracks dangerous weather, charts our seas and skies, guides our use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve our understanding and stewardship of the environment.

NOD—Nature of Discharge

P

Photographic Laboratory Drain—The laboratory wastewater resulting from processing of photographic film.

PMT—Program Management Team—Established for the UNDS rulemaking effort. The PMT monitors the UNDS Program progress to schedule and budget, and reviews and approves all preambles and proposed rules prior to submitting them to the Senior Executive Panel (SEP) for review. The PMT is responsible for resolving issues that cannot be resolved at the Integration Team (IT) level and raising unresolved issues to the SEP for resolution.

S

Special areas—International Maritime Organization's "International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships" (MARPOL) designated environmentally sensitive areas where special international provisions are established to afford additional protection.

MARPOL Annex I—Establishes special areas in which all discharge of oil from oil tankers and other ships in excess of 400 gross tons is prohibited. Annex I special areas include the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Antarctic area.

MARPOL Annex V—Designates special areas where virtually no solid waste discharge is permitted. Three Annex V special areas are in effect internationally: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Antarctic Region.

T

Territorial seas—Defined in section 502(8) of the Clean Water Act to be the belt of the seas measured from the line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast which is in direct contact with the open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of inland waters, and extending seaward a distance of 3 nautical miles. (See also contiguous zone).

TWG—Technical Working Group—established for the UNDS rulemaking effort. The TWG supports the technical and scientific activity of the rulemaking process including the identification of discharges requiring control and MPCD performance standards. The TWG develops the technical approaches to support these efforts.

U

UCC—UNDS Consultation Committee – Established for the UNDS Phase II rulemaking effort. The UCC provides an avenue for consultation with Federal agencies; advises on outreach with interested States, Territories, and Tribal governments that may be affected by UNDS; and facilitates information exchange with other organizations interested in the development of UNDS.

W

Weather deck runoff—The precipitation, washdowns, and seawater falling on the weather deck of a vessel and discharged overboard through deck openings.

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