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VERIFICATION OF BALLAST WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS UNDER EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION (ETV) PROGRAM
Citation:
Frederick*, R, A Tafuri*, AND T. G. Stevens. VERIFICATION OF BALLAST WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS UNDER EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION (ETV) PROGRAM. Presented at PACON 2001 International Conference, Session on Ocean Science and Technology, San Francisco, CA, 7/8-11/2001.
Description:
This paper presents a brief overview of the EPA's ETV program which was established in 1995 to overcome the numerous impediments to commercialization experienced by developers of innovative environmental technologies. Among those most frequently mentioned is the lack of credible performance data. It is believed that objective, independently acquired, high-quality performance data and operational performance on new technologies will significantly facilitate the use, permitting, financing, export, purchase, and general marketplace acceptance of new environmental technologies. This paper describes the ETV approach, including the use of stakeholder groups, technology panels, development of protocols and site-specific test plans, and the activities being conducted by the Source Water Protection (SWP) and Wet Weather Flow (WWF) Pilots, 2 or 12 activities within the ETV program. Both pilot activities have partnered with NSF International to verify environmental technologies in several major areas. The SWP pilot primarily addresses decentralized wastewater treatment systems for both domestic and commercial application. Two other areas addressed by the SWP Pilot include technologies for infrastructure rehabilitation and watershed protection. The WWF pilot addresses physical separation and disinfection technologies for high flow rates associated with stormwater discharges and treatment of combined sewer overflows. A recent addition to the cadre of environmental technologies being considered for verification testing is ship ballast water treatment systems intended to reduce the proliferation of aquatic nuisance species such as zebra mussels and other invasive organisms. Protocols and test plans developed for the SWP and WWF activities will serve as a template for developing similar documents for verifying performance characteristics of various ballast water tratment systems. This activity is being conducted at the request of, and in cooperation with the US Coast Guard's National Ballast Water Management Program.