mental effects of spills. Current efTorts are focused on the development of 

 first-generation devices to prevent, detect, and control material released by 

 accidents at production sites, storage facilities, and in transit. Full-scale 

 demonstrations of these techniques and systems will be conducted at the 

 Edison Test Basin next year. 



The Navy's oil spill program is directed toward the development of im- 

 proved tank-content indicators and slop tanks to prevent oil spills, rapid- 

 response methods for containing and removing spills of up to 10,000 gallons, 

 and such new spill-control techniques as the use of emulsion burners and 

 chemical treatment to increase surface tension for facilitating cleanup 

 operations. 



The Corps of Engineers has investigated techniques for combating oil 

 spills utilizing absorbent materials for soaking up oil which then sink to 

 the bottom. In view of its large dredge fleet, the Corps is developing 

 mechanisms that can be attached to the dredge and provide support in com- 

 bating oil spills. In addition, investigations have been made on using biologi- 

 cal organisms to attack the oil spilled. 



Oil-Water Separation Equipment 



Under the Water and Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, 

 the discharge of oil in navigable waters of the United States or in the waters 

 of the contiguous zone to the 1 2-miIe limit is prohibited except under special 

 circumstances. Nonetheless, oil-water mixtures from bilges and ballast are 

 sometimes unintentionally discharged in these waters, and the resulting oil 

 slick may be harmful to fish and wildlife, beaches, and shoreline property. 

 The use of rapid, efficient oil-water separators would put an end to this 

 type of accidental discharge. The Maritime Administration, Navy, and Coast 

 Guard are currently cooperating in a program to develop reliable separators 

 for use in public and commercial vessels. Separator development has shown 

 some progress with three prototype gravity separators used successfully on 

 tankers for 1 to 3 years. 



Ship Waste Treatment 



Although they constitute only a small fraction of 1 percent of all municipal, 

 industrial, and other wastes entering the marine environment, ship wastes 

 are sufficient to endanger water quality in harbors, estuaries, and some near- 

 shore waters. No single shipboard waste treatment system can meet the 

 needs of all of the diverse types of vessels afloat. In recognition of this prob- 

 lem, four Federal agencies are engaged in efTorts to develop specialized 

 treatment systems adapted to specific vessel classes. 



The main thrust of the Maritime Administration program is the develop- 

 ment of treatment equipment and operational techniques to minimize waste 

 discharges from commercial ships. A secondary effort is directed to the 

 conversion of reserve ships for use as port waste treatment facilities. 



The EPA Program is concerned with controlling waste discharge from 

 small watercraft. It is currently completing work on first-generation devices 

 for primary treatment of human and other wastes. This wdll be followed by 



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