StarKist Samoa Company, Pago Pago, AS; Special MPRSA Permits OD 2022-01/OD 2020-01
EPA Region 9 received an application from StarKist Samoa Co. (StarKist) for a special permit for fish waste disposal on July 19, 2022. The fish waste proposed for disposal is “fish processing liquid wastes” generated at the StarKist tuna cannery in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Fish waste would be disposed of at EPA’s designated fish waste ocean disposal site at 14°24.00' South; 170°38.20' West (NAD27). A tentative determination has been made to issue a 3-year special permit for ocean disposal of fish processing liquid wastes. The proposed (DRAFT) special ocean dumping permit (OD 2022-01), factsheet, and application are linked below.
EPA Region 9 previously issued an 18-month research permit that allowed StarKist to commence ocean disposal of three (3) fish processing liquid wastes at the designated ocean disposal site. View the Administrative Record related to a previously issued MPRSA Permit (OD 2020-01 RESEARCH) for StarKist Samoa Co., American Samoa.
The draft research permit required sampling of the fish processing liquid wastes from the tuna cannery facility, operational restrictions, and ocean disposal site monitoring requirements. The waste stream samples, and chemistry data collected from this research permit were reviewed and compared to the historic liquid waste streams discharged under earlier special permits. The current liquid waste streams were determined to be similar. Additionally, no adverse impacts to the marine environment were determined to be occurring as a result of ocean disposal operations.
MPRSA Permit No. OD 2022-01
- Proposed (DRAFT) Special Ocean Dumping Permit No. OD 2022-01: StarKist Samoa Company, Pago Pago, AS (pdf)
- EPA Fact Sheet: Proposed Special Ocean Dumping Permit OD 2022-01 (pdf)
- Application for Ocean Dumping Special Permit: Starkist Samoa (pdf)
MPRSA Permit OD 2020-01 Research
Administrative Record related to MPRSA Permit (OD 2020-01 RESEARCH) for StarKist Samoa Co., American Samoa.
The permit application submitted by StarKist Samoa Company (below) was reviewed by EPA Region 9 and a tentative determination was made to issue a research permit for ocean disposal of fish processing liquid wastes. Their application contains the proposal and description of ocean disposal operations, descriptions of the fish processing liquid wastes to be discharged and anticipated environmental impacts of ocean disposal.
The draft research permit (below) describes the fish processing liquid wastes allowed for ocean disposal at the EPA-designated ocean disposal site as well as operational restrictions and monitoring requirements. The data collected from this research permit will be reviewed and considered for the issuance of a future special permit for longer term disposal operations.
The fact sheet (below) summarizes the key aspects of the draft research permit.