[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 44255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22198]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6146-5]
Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Notice of
Determination
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On June 26, 1998, a document was published that the State of
Massachusetts had petitioned the Regional Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, to determine that adequate facilities for the safe
and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are
reasonably available for coastal regions of the town of Harwich, State
of Massachusetts. The petition was filed pursuant to section 312(f)(3)
of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public laws 95-217 and 100-4, for
the purpose of declaring these waters a ``No Discharge Area'' (NDA).
Section 312(f)(3) states: 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.
The information submitted to me by the State of Massachusetts
certified that there are two facilities to service the town of Harwich,
MA. A stationary shore side pumpout facility at the Saquatucket
Municipal Marina has a 60 gallon per cycle capacity with discharge to a
2,500 gallon tight tank. This facility provides access for vessels with
6 feet draft at mean low water. This facility is available daily from
May 1 through November 15, weather permitting and open during daylight
hours. Harbormaster personnel will be available to demonstrate the
self-service system Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The
Harwich Harbormaster's office number is (508) 430-7532. The second
facility is a pumpout boat typically docked at Saquatucket Municipal
Marina, unless the private marinas request it for a short period of
time. This pumpout boat will come to individual boats by appointment,
which can be made by calling the Harwich Harbormaster on channel VHF 68
or calling the office at (508) 430-7532. The pumpout boat will be
available May 1 through November 15, and service is normally available
Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m., weather permitting.
In addition to these pumpout facilities, there is a town comfort
station located on the Allen harbor town boat ramp parking area, and
the Saquatucket Municipal Marina has on-shore bathroom and shower
facilities available 24 hours a day. There are also private facilities
at the Allen Harbor Yacht Club.
The waste from stationary shore side pumpout facility at the
Saquatucket Municipal Marina and the pumpout boat is collected and
stored in a Department of Environmental Protection approved, 2,500
gallon tigh tank. This tank is fitted with alarms that activate in time
to ensure waste removal long before the capacity is reached. The town
of Harwich has an annual agreement with a licensed waste hauler to
pump-out, on demand by the Harbormaster, and then transport the septage
to the Town of Yarmouth's Sewage Treatment Facility. The Town of
Harwich has a contract with the Town of Yarmouth for the use of the
Yarmouth-Dennis Septage Treatment Facility.
There are approximately 753 boats either moored or docked within
Herring Creek, Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor and Saquatucket Harbor
and are primarily ``parking lot'' harbors where the majority of boats
are under 27 feet. Of these 735 boats there are 35 commercial fishing
vessels, and an estimated transient population of 68 vessels.
The resources of the Herring Creek, Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor
and Saquatucket harbor are recreational and commercial. Wychmere Harbor
is the site of the town's commercial aquaculture operations. The
beaches are located on the contiguous boundary with Nantucket Sound.
Therefore, based on an examination of the petition and its
supporting information, which included site visits by EPA New England
staff, I have determined that adequate facilities for the safe and
sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are
reasonably available for the areas covered under this determination
which include the major harbors and contiguous beaches between and
including Allen, Wychmere and Saquatucket harbors and to the Herring
River. The latitudes and longitude defining the boundaries are Town
line of Dennis 70 deg.07'03'', 41 deg.39'16'', Herring River
70 deg.06'33'', 41 deg.40'08'', Allens Harbor 70 deg.05'22'',
41 deg.40'04'', Wychmere Harbor 70 deg.03'56'', 41 deg.40'04'',
Saquatucket Harbor 70 deg.03'31'', 41 deg.40'09'', Town line of Chatham
70 deg.02'17'', 41 deg. 39'58'', and the water boundaries are
70 deg.02'55'', 41 deg.39'52'', -70 deg.04'38'', 41 deg.39'46'',
-70 deg.06'00'', 41 deg.39'35''. This determination is made pursuant to
section 312 (f)(3) of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Laws 95-
217 and 100-4.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
[FR Doc. 98-22198 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
