Oil Discharge Into Waterways

[FredRosse]

Oil into lakes and rivers is an event we all need to be mindful of. Bilge water will often have some oil, and the Oil-Sorb Pads are effective here, provided they are not too overloaded with waste oil.

Does anyone know of environmentally acceptable oils that are biodegradable and that could be discharged into the water? I would think things like Tallow, or various vegetable oils, castor oil, palm oil, etc. would be OK, but I do not know the rules here.

It would be good to know of some oils that would not bring environmental problems. Please let us know about this IF you have solid data. Telling the authorities that "I think this oil discharge is OK, Joe from the forum said he thought it was acceptable because he heard about it from a friend...." would not be the kind of information needed here.

Another point: Two Stroke Outboard Mix Oil. I know that stuff is petroleum oil mix, is discharged into the water, and there are millions of 2-stroke outboards in service. Yes, they will eventually be outlawed, but they spew many tons of oil directly into our waterways. For example, a 100 HP outboard will put 1 to 2 pounds of OIL into the exhaust every hour at full throttle. There are thousands of these boats running on the water as I write this. What are the regulations regarding these types of discharge?

 

[bimr]

Only 20-30% of the 2-stroke engine oil ends up in the water. The rest is an air pollutant.

You can use a canola oil product.

Contact this firm, they may be able to assist:

http://greenpluslubes.com/

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-029.html

 

[dbill74]

What does EPA say?

 

[geesamand]

The EPA Clean Water Act prevents any discharge of oil or grease. All it has to do is form a sheen on the water or a distinct blob of pollutant (e.g. grease).

So the literal definitions put basically any oil or grease lubricated machine that operates in water at risk of non-compliance. That's the vast majority of existing and new machinery.

David

 

[MartinLe]

even biodgradable oils bring BOD into the water, so the problem is not only which oils but how much.
I understand that you want to operate some machinery that will spill oil, and you want it compliant and reasonalby non-polluting?

 

[FredRosse]

"I understand that you want to operate some machinery that will spill oil, and you want it compliant and reasonalby non-polluting? "

Yes that is the basis of my question.

On waterways, one thing I notice is 2 cycle outboard motors, which exhaust oil laden exhaust into waterways. What rules must be followed here? A 100 horsepower 2 stroke outboard will release on the order of a gallon of oil mix into the exhaust for a 10 hour running day. I want to spill about 1/10 gallon of oil into the waterway per year. I know that 2 stroke outboards are becoming obsolete, but there are many thousands of them still in operation. Looking for the real rules, not just conjecture and opinions.

 

[bimr]

Many smaller boats and personal watercraft are equipped with conventional, carbureted 2-stroke engines. These light-weight
engines are easy to maintain. However, they expel relatively large amounts of hydrocarbons into the air. Engine exhaust, mixed with nitrogen oxide and sunlight, can produce harmful smog. Conventional 2- stroke engines produce roughly 14 times as much ozone-forming pollution as 4-stroke engines.

Older engines can also discharge unburned fuel with their exhaust fumes. While most of this evaporates quickly, some may linger in the water for a while.

The EPA's gasoline marine final rule, published in August of 1996, established hydrocarbon emission standards for 2006 and later gasoline marine engines. Covered by the rule are outboard engines and gasoline marine engines used in personal watercraft and jet boat applications. The upshot of this mandate is that as of 2006, any and all NEW outboard marine engines must be manufactured to meet EPA emission standards. Low pollution outboards will come as either four-stroke or direct fuel-injection two-stroke engines. Conventional engines manufactured before 2006 are exempt from the new emission standards.

The regulations apply only to engine manufacturers. Boat owners are not required to modify their current engines to meet the new standards, nor will they be subject to any penalties. The new generation of outboard and personal watercraft marine engines are approximately 75% cleaner than the older marine engine technology. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, the new engine technology will provide boaters with many performance advantages, generally providing easier starting, faster acceleration, quicker throttle response, and a reduction in smoke, fumes and noise. Significant improvements in fuel economy could provide hundreds of dollars in fuel savings.

The new technology includes fuel injection and eliminates carburetors.

Some parks will not allow the use of the older engines anymore.

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Blt/

EPA has taken the position that the Clean Water Act definition ("oil of any kind or in any form") was expansive enough to include animal fats and vegetable oils. 67 Fed. Reg. 47076 (July 17, 2002).