[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22943-22944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10886]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5818-1]
Lake Hartwell No Discharge Zone Determination
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Regional
Administrator concurs with the determinations of the States of South
Carolina and Georgia that adequate and reasonably available pump out
facilities exist at Lake Hartwell. A petition was received from the
State of South Carolina and concurred with by the State of Georgia
requesting a determination by the Regional Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, pursuant to Section 312(f)(3) of Pub. L. 92-500 as
amended by Pub. L. 95-217 and Pub. L. 100-4, that adequate facilities
for the safe and sanitary removal of sewage from all vessels are
reasonably available for Hartwell Lake to qualify as a ``No Discharge
Zone'' (NDZ).
The proposed action was previously noticed in the Federal Register,
Vol. 60, No. 91, Thursday May 11, 1995. Since that time, 16 letters
supporting NDZ designation and 4 letters opposing NDZ designation have
been received. Questions were raised concerning the availability of
pump out facilities in the letters which opposed NDZ designation.
On May 22, 1996, representatives from the US Army Corps of
Engineers (COE), Region 4 EPA, and South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control participated in an on site investigation of
Lake Hartwell to determine the availability of pump out facilities and
address the concerns raised in the dissenting letters. Based upon the
field data collected, it was determined at a November 26, 1996 meeting
at the COE Lake Hartwell Office to proceed with NDZ designation, since
adequate pump out facilities are available and the addition of future
pump out facilities is very probable.
This action is taken under Section 312 (f)(3) of the Clean Water
Act which states:
[[Page 22944]]
After the effective date of the initial standards and
regulations promulgated under this section, if any State determines
that the protection and enhancement of the quality of some or all of
the waters within such States require greater environmental
protection, such State may completely prohibit the discharge from
all vessels of any sewage, whether treated or not into such waters,
except that no such prohibition shall apply until the Administrator
determines that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary
removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably
available for such water to which such prohibition would apply.
EPA's action allows prohibition regarding discharge from vessels to
be applied by the State of South Carolina and Georgia for Lake
Hartwell. EPA found the following existing facilities available for
pumping out vessel holding tanks in Lake Hartwell. Their address,
telephone number, hours of operation and draught are as follows:
A. Hartwell Marina; 1500 North Forest Avenue, Hartwell, Georgia
30643; 706-376-5441; 9 AM-5 PM; seven days a week; 15-18 foot draught.
B. Portman Shoals Marina; Route 11, Anderson, South Carolina 29624;
864-226-3339; 24 hours year round; 25 foot draught.
C. Western Carolina Sailing Club; 5200 Westwind Way, Anderson,
South Carolina 29624; 864-226-6561 private club; 8 foot draught.
The marinas proposing to add pump out facilities in the near future
are:
A. Seneca Marina; Box 1591, Clemson, South Carolina 29631; 864-653-
6900; April 15--October 15 8-6, otherwise 9-3, 30 foot draught.
B. Big Water Marina; Route 2, Box 133A, Big Water Road, Star, South
Carolina 29684; 864-226-3339; 9-5, closed on Tuesday, 60 foot draught.
The number of boats with marine sanitation devices (MSD's) using
the lake has been estimated to be 580. The ratio of boats with MSD's to
pump out facilities is therefore 193 boats per pump out facility.
The petition from South Carolina and Georgia notes that each of the
three marinas with existing pump out facilities have waste treatment
systems that comply with federal law. Hartwell Marina and Portman
Marina pump out facilities discharge into State approved and regulated
septic tanks. Western Carolina's facilities discharge into a large
holding tank which is collected by a privately owned septage hauler and
transported to an Anderson County waste water treatment plant.
Comments concerning this action may be filed on or before (30 days
from this notice). Such communications should be addressed to Wesley B.
Crum, Chief, Coastal Programs and Surface Water Quality Grants Section,
USEPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta,
Georgia 30303-3104. Telephone 404-562-9352.
Approved by:
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-10886 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6560-50-P
