The Navy’s 1987 Shipboard Solid and Plastics Waste Management Program Plan set two objectives. In addition, by 1996, when the Navy’s plan is scheduled to be completed, the Navy will have about 4 years left to develop and install new technologies to meet requirements in special areas for surface ships, and only about 2 years in other areas. The Navy does not expect to identify tasks or milestones until after it submits its 1996 plan to Congress. Non-Navy Ships Have Implemented Approaches to Achieve Compliance

Non-Navy ships are using various approaches to meet discharge requirements. Although the Navy’s characteristics may delay its full compliance with the future requirements, we identified practices used by other federal agencies and commercial carriers that could apply to the Navy’s efforts to comply with discharge requirements. The headquarters primary focus has been on developing equipment that met Navy specifications, but three of its four long-term projects have been canceled, suspended, or reduced. Through fiscal year 1994, the Navy has spent $6 million on these projects, which are in the early research phase. Recommendations

We recommend that the Secretary of the Navy direct the Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, to ensure that headquarters’ planning efforts include the (1) tasks and interim milestones to measure progress toward long-term goals for nonplastic solid waste for both surface ships and submarines and (2) necessary mechanisms to coordinate among all involved activities, especially to pass on lessons learned from non-Navy ships and individual Navy ships that report progress in complying with discharge requirements. The report includes solid and plastics waste management. This is the latest incident of the Navy discharging solid waste from ships. The Navy begins a study addressing shipboard solid waste discharges from its pulper and shredder.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's Shipboard Solid and Plastics Waste Management Program, focusing on the: (1) Navy's planning processes; and (2) program's effectiveness since its implementation.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) the Navy's two prior plans for meeting shipboard solid waste discharge requirements were not well-coordinated and did not include interim milestones for minimizing waste until 1998 or later; (2) the Navy would benefit from examining other federal agencies' and commercial carriers' solid waste disposal experiences; (3) although the Navy has improved coordination for its November 1996 plan, the plan still does not include tasks or milestones to achieve near-term compliance for waste other than plastics; (4) by the time the Navy submits its 1996 plan to Congress, it will have 4 years to develop and install new technologies to meet the discharge requirements; (5) the Navy does not have an approach to meet future legal requirements for solid waste discharges; (6) the Navy has spent $52 million of the $80 million appropriated through fiscal year 1994 on discharge equipment; (7) three of the Navy's four primary developmental projects have been cancelled, suspended, or reduced; and (8) although two Navy ships have reported progress in complying with solid waste discharge requirements, the Navy has not given adequate consideration to whether lessons can be learned from the experiences of non-Navy ships and individual Navy ships that report progress in complying with discharge requirements.