[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 12094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6388]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5976-7]
New Jersey State Prohibition on Marine Discharges of Vessel
Sewage; Receipt of Petition and Tentative Determination
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given that a petition was received from the State
of New Jersey on September 3, 1997, requesting a determination by the
Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to
section 312(f) of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Law 95-217
and Public Law 100-4 (the Clean Water Act), that adequate facilities
for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all
vessels are reasonably available for the navigable waters of the Shark
River, Monmouth County, State of New Jersey.
This petition was made by the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in cooperation with Monmouth County
and the Shark River Roundtable. Upon receipt of an affirmative
determination in response to this petition, NJDEP would completely
prohibit the discharge of sewage, whether treated or not, from any
vessel in the Shark River in accordance with section 312(f)(3) of the
Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 140.4(a).
The Shark River, located in central New Jersey, has its headwaters
in Tinton Falls and flows into its estuary of approximately 810 acres.
The estuary is surrounded by the towns of Avon-by-the-Sea, the Borough
of Belmar, Neptune City, Neptune Township and Wall Township. The river
empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Shark River Inlet. The Shark
River drains a watershed area of 23 square miles. The proposed No-
Discharge Zone would include all navigable waters in the Shark River
beginning at the Shark River Inlet.
Information submitted by the State of New Jersey, the Monmouth
County, and the Shark River Roundtable states that there are two
existing pumpout facilities available and two portable toilet dump
stations to service vessels which use the Shark River. Belmar Municipal
Marine Basin, located at 900 Marine Avenue, Belmar, operates a
stationary pumpout and a dump station for portable toilets. The pumpout
and dump station are available at all hours and are operated by the
marina staff from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m or by the boater at all other hours.
Main One Marina, located at 1 Main Street, Avon, operates a stationary
pumpout and a portable toilet dump station. The pumpout and dump
station are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are operated by marina
staff. Total Marine at Seaview, located at 120 Sea Spray Lane, Neptune,
operates a stationary pumpout which serves boats docked at the marina
only. The pumpout is available on demand. This facility was not
included in the assessment of adequacy of pumpouts available to the
boating population since 90% of the vessels are excluded from its use.
Four facilities are proposing to construct additional pumpout
facilities (one each). Shark River Hills Marina, Shark River Hills
Beach and Yacht Club, Shark River Yacht Club and Belmar Municipal
Marina have applied for Clean Vessel Act grants to fund the
installation of pumpout facilities. All existing and proposed pumpout
facilities are located in areas where six feet mean low water depth is
avalable. No vessels will be excluded from use of the pumpouts due to
draft restrictions.
Vessel waste generated from the pump-out facilities in Wall
Township and the Borough of Belmar is conveyed to the South Monmouth
Regional Sewage Authority (NJPDES Permit No. NJ0024520). Vessel waste
generated from the pump-out facilities in Avon, Neptune City and
Neptune Township is conveyed to the Neptune Township Sewage Authority
(NJPDES Permit No. NJ0024872). These plants operate under permits
issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
According to the State's petition, the maximum daily vessel
population for the Shark River is approximately 1183 vessels. This
estimate is based on (1) vessels docked at marinas and yacht clubs (882
vessels), (2) vessels docked at non-marina facilities (129 vessels) and
(3) transient vessels (172 vessels). The vessel population based on
length is 872 vessels less than 26 feet in length, 263 vessels between
26 feet and 40 feet in length and 48 vessels greater than 40 feet in
length. Based on number and size of boats, and using various methods to
estimate the number of holding tanks, it is estimated that 1 to 2
pumpouts are needed for the Shark River.
The EPA hereby makes a tentative affirmative determination that
adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of
sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the Shark River in
the County of Monmouth, New Jersey. A final determination on this
matter will be made following the 30 day period for public comment and
will result in a New Jersey State prohibition of any sewage discharges
from vessels in the Shark River.
Comments and views regarding this petition and EPA's tentative
determination may be filed on or before April 13, 1998. Comments or
requests for information or copies of the applicant's petition should
be addressed to Walter E. Andrews, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region II, Water Programs Branch, 290 Broadway, 24th Floor, New
York, New York, 10007-1866. Telephone: (212) 637-3880.
Dated: February 19, 1998.
William J. Musynski,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-6388 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
