Haley Stevens: “I have discussed with my friend, Senator Thurmond, the issue of shipboard solid waste discharges and the Navy's ability…”

“I have discussed with my friend, Senator Thurmond, the issue of shipboard solid waste discharges and the Navy's ability to comply with the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships [APPS] and Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution on Ships [MARPOL]. After thoroughly studying the operational and environmental impacts, the Navy has identified the use of paper/ cardboard pulpers and metal/glass shredders as the preferred technology for full compliance with MARPOL, at a fleet-wide cost of about $300 million. Conversely, full compliance with the APPS would involve the use of technologies that would significantly degrade operations and result in a fleet-wide cost of about $1.1 billion. Therefore, it is evident that additional legislative guidance is necessary to ensure that U.S. strictures allow for the use of developed technologies that are environmentally sound, operationally feasible, and affordable. As a result, I have introduced S. 1728, which amends section 1902(c) of the APPS by allowing the Navy to use pulpers and shredders to dispose of non-plastic and non-floating solid waste.”