1998 Year of the Ocean The Oceans and National Security 



on the natural environment. We need to understand those impacts, and take 

 appropriate actions to minimize them. Beyond the strict interpretation of the law, 

 we have an ethical responsibility to conserve the natural resources entrusted to 

 us."^^ 



This principle has been reinforced by the Chief of Naval Operations who stated that 

 "national defense and environmental protection are and must continue to be compatible goals. 

 Therefore, an important part of the Navy's mission is to prevent pollution, protect the 

 environment, and protect natural, historic, and cultural resources.""^ Consistent with that policy, 

 protection of the marine environment is mission essential. Navy ships conduct operations, in port 

 and at sea, in such a manner as to minimize or eliminate any adverse impact on the marine 

 environment.'*' 



The sea services work hard to be good stewards of the oceans. The Navy views protection 

 of the environment as a very practical challenge for operations and logistics. Recognizing the 

 importance of assessing environmental factors and impacts during operations at sea, the Navy, in 

 conjunction with the Joint Staff, is developing a Naval Warfare Publication (NWP 4-11). This 

 document will serve as a ready reference for operational planners, afloat staffs, and vessel 

 commanders seeking to integrate complex environmental requirements into day-to-day 

 operations. 



The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is responsible for implementing the 

 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the 

 1978 Protocol (MARPOL 73/78). MARPOL establishes legal principles, applied to owners and 

 operators through the national laws of the flag state, which govern the control of marine pollution 

 as a result of vessel/platform source emissions into the air and water. Because the roles of 

 military vessels are unique, MARPOL 73/78 exempts warships, naval auxiliaries, and other 

 public vessels on noncommercial service from compliance but does require each party to adopt 

 appropriate measures, not impairing the operations or operational capabilities of such ships, to 

 comply with the Convention in so far as reasonable and practicable.'^ This "exemption" is 

 frequently misunderstood by the public to mean that navies are not taking action to prevent 

 pollution. The Navy complies with waste treatment and disposal standards, generally speaking, 

 that are far more rigorous than those mandated by IMO regulations. To this end, "the Navy has 

 established the goal of Environmentally Sound Ships of the 21st century (ESS-21) that will be 

 able to minimize waste generation and treat or destroy unavoidable waste on board."^* 



24pirie. R.B. Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment). Statement before the Subcommittee on 



Readiness of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Fiscal Year 98 Department of the Navy Environmental Budget. 15 



April 1997. 



25 Dept. of the Navy, Environmental and Natural Resources Manual (OPNAVINST 5090.18) (1994). 



26lbid. 



^^Article 3, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of Ships. 1973. 



28Dept. of the Navy, Report to Congress, U.S. Navy Ship Solid Waste Management Plan for MARPOL Annex V Special Areas, 



Nov, 1, 1996. The Navy's 21" Century Surface Combatant (SC-21) will satisfy applicable environmental regulations related to 



waste management while at the same time functioning as a highly capable warship. A NATO Naval Armaments Group 



(SWF/12) is examining on a similar concept in a NATO context. 



B-17 



