Pollution Prevention COTS Equipment: Lessons Learned and Return on Investment

Abstract

ABSTRACT The goal of the Pollution Prevention (P2) Afloat Program is source reduction of hazardous materials (HM) used in standard shipboard maintenance and other afloat activities. Executive Order 12856 requires federal facilities to reduce the release of hazardous substances by 50 percent by 1999 compared to a 1994 baseline. Studies show that up to 70 percent of the hazardous waste processed at Navy facilities is obtained from HM off‐loads from ships. The P2 Afloat Team is achieving source reduction goals by identifying, assessing, and implementing source reduction opportunities aboard ships, and focusing on the direct use or minimal reengineering of commercial‐off‐the‐shelf products. There have been many challenges and lessons learned during research, procurement, test and evaluation, installation, and return on investment analyses of P2 Afloat equipment. Applying these lessons learned regarding pollution prevention in the maritime environment is essential in order to meet the challenges of the Fleet in the new millennium.