[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]













              PENNSYLVANIA


















                            A plan for the im plementation
                            of the recommendations in the
                            Presque Isle Bay Recreational
                            Boating Study of 1992.
  i 46




  L









                 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES










                    Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program


                           DER Grant/Contract No. .93.04EG
                                    Grant Task No. 93EG.04






     A REPORT OFTHE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES TO
         THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION PURSUANT TO
                          NOAA AWARD NO. NA370ZO351


                              Ocastat


          PENNSYLVANIA
                                                   zonE               Of



                            A plan for the implementation
                            of the recommendations in the
                            Presque Isle Bay Recreational
                            Boating Study of 1992.









                   j4
         C-,




     Project was  financed in part through a federal Coastal Zone Management
     Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources,
     with funds provided by the NOAA. The views expressed herein are those
     of the author(s) and do not necessarily reglect the views of NOAA or
     any of its  subagencies.







             A plan for the implementation of the recommendations in the
                 Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study of 1992.












                                 Performed under the
                       Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants Program
                                     Section 309
                            Coastal Zone Management Act







                                  December 31, 1994








                                     Prepared by
                            Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
                        Department of Environmental Resources
                        Bureau of Land and Water Conservation
                            Division of Coastal Programs








                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                          Pacle


     Introduction                                                           1

     Monitoring of boating conditions and boat slips.                       3

     A Balanced approach to maximize the use and yet preserving the
     environmental quality of the Bay.                                      4

     Strengthen educational efforts for boating safety awareness.           7

     Monitor areas which have a potential for congestion.                   9

     A "No Wake" zone.                                                     10

     Educational displays to educate users about the sensitivity
     of the Bay's resources and ways to minimize potential
     use conflicts.                                                        11

     A Clean Vessels Survey.                                               12

     The Environmental Protection Agency should reduce Total
     Petroleum Hydrocarbons from two stroke engines.                       14

     The Environmental Protection Agency should support research
     of an alternative to copper-based antifouling paint and
     resource managers should closely monitor the release
     of copper in the Bay.                                                 16

     Millcreek Township should consider a Lake Bluff and Shoreline
     Preservation Program.                                                 18

     The Department of Environmental Resources through
     consistency reviews, should carefully review joint
     permit applications.                                                  19

     The City of Erie and  Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port
     Authority should continue to be proactive in the
     redevelopment of the waterfront.                                      20

     The City of Erie or the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port
     Authority should consider providing transient boat slips.             22

     CZM Policy Change                                                     23

     References                                                            24







                  INTRODUCTION


     This study originated from a new voluntary Coastal Zone Enhancement
     Grants Program, under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, as
     amended in 1990, that encouraged states to develop program changes in
     one or more of eight coastal zone enhancement areas. These areas are as
     follows:


               coastal wetlands.
             - public hazards
             - public access
             - marine debris
             - cumulative and secondary impacts
             - special area management planning
             - ocean resources
             - energy and government facility siting and activities.

     In order to develop program changes a strategy was developed by the
     Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER), Division of
     Coastal Programs (DCP) through an assessment of Pennsylvania's Coastal
     Zone Management Program. As a result of the assessment, four of the
     enhancement areas were identified as being priority issues for
     Pennsylvania. Those enhancement areas are:

             - Coastal Wetlands.
             - Coastal Hazards
             - Public Access
             - Cumulative and Secondary Impacts

     A study of the impact of boating on Presque Isle Bay was included under
     Cumulative and Secondary Impacts. It was selected for several reasons,
     The first reason was because boating capacity on the Bay has been a
     concern of the Coastal Zone Management Program and the City of Erie
     since the early 19801s. The second reason was because it would provide
     useful information in the development of a Remedial Action Plan for the
     Bay, which was concurrently being prepared by the DER. The Remedial
     Action Plan was focusing on environmental pollution of the Bay from land
     geherated sources. The Bay boating impact study would provide
     information, currently unknown, about pollution being generated by
     recreational boating.

     The intention of the study was to address the ability of the Bay to
     accommodate recreational boating from environmental and social
     perspectives, how to minimize any adverse environmental or social
     impacts caused by boating, and determine what other means exist
     nearby for satisfying demand for boating. Specific environmental
     considerations include impacts to water quality (sewage and gasoline
     from boats), as well as impacts on wetlands, and shorelines from
     wave-induced erosion.

     A general task schedule was developed, by federal grant year, to
     complete a Presque Isle Bay boating impact study and to effect any
     Coastal Zone Management changes needed to implement the recommendations
     of the study. The project was scheduled to begin in the 1992 federal
     grant year. During this year a bay boating impact study would be
     completed through the retention of a consultant through the contracting


                                        1





      process. During the 1993 federal grant year a review of the study
      recommendations would be undertaken and the appropriate means of
      implementing the recommendations would be determined. Arrangements
      would also be made with any agencies necessary to follow through with
      the implementation of the recommendations. During the 1994 grant year,
      the final year of the project, regulations and agreements required to
      . plement the recommendations should be finalized.
      3-M





































































                                        2







                   MONITORING OF BOATING CONDITIONS AND BOAT SLIPS





      Recommendation:

           When expansion of recreational facilities approaches 900 new boat
           slips, a detailed assessment should be conducted to address
           availability of additional capacity, water quality, and carrying
           capacity. Also, there does not appear to be a need to restrict or
           limit public access-to Presque Isle Bay currently or in the near
           future. Monitoring of the boating conditions should be conducted
           over time if use levels increase.

      Supporting Information:

      The recommendation section of the Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating
      Study stated that findings do not warrant restrictions or limitations of
      public access to Presque Isle Bay currently or in the near future.
      However, if usage of the Bay continues to increase in the future, a
      point may be reached where conditions may warrant such restrictions or
      limitations. The study recommended that the number of new boat slips,
      created at marinas within the Bay, should be used for determining the
      time at which the carrying capacity of the Bay should be reevaluated.
      The Study went on to recommend that the reevaluation should begin as
      soon as the expansion of recreational boating facilities approaches 900
      new boat slips. A single organization which is involved with the day to
      day activities of the Bay should be selected as the lead agency for
      keeping track of the number of new boat slips created each year. A
      detailed water quality assessment should also be conducted, at the same
      time that the carrying capacity is being reevaluated, to determine
      whether additional recreational boating pressures would also be
      detrimental to the water quality-of the Bay.

      The Erie - Western Pennsylvania Port Authority was chosen as the most
      qualified agency for completing the task of tracking new boat slips and
      they have accepted the responsibility. Therefore the implementation
      phase of this recommendation will require the preparation of a letter of
      agreement between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
      Resources, Divisionof Coastal Programs and the Erie - Western
      Pennsylvania Port Authority. The agreement will stipulate the   terms and
      conditions under which the Port Authority will track and report the
      number of new boat slips being created on Presque Isle Bay each   year..
      The report will also provide a running total of the number of boat slips
      created since the beginning of the tracking system.

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study also recommended that a
      future monitoring program should be considered for measuring boating
      density and use patterns on the Bay. The Presque Isle Bay Recreational
      Boating Study Task Force discussed the need for a future monitoring
      program and decided, for the present, to table this recommendation.







                                         3







                   A BALANCED APPROACH TO MAXIMIZE THE  USE AND YET PRESERVING
                   THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE BAY




      Recommendation:

           Resource managers should consider a balanced approach to maximizing
           the uses of the Bay and preserving environmental quality.

      supporting Information:

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study recommended a three step
      procedure for attaining a balanced approach for maximizing the use of
      the Bay and at the same time preserving its environmental
      quality. The first step is the identification of problem conditions or
      unacceptable impacts, the second step is the determination of potential
      causal factors influencing the occurrence and severity of the current
      impacts, and the third step involves the selection of potential
      management strategies for rectifying unacceptable impact conditions.
      The three step procedure recommended in.the Presque Isle Bay
      Recreational Boating Study will be accomplished through a study known as
      the Presque Isle Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP). This study was
      undertaken by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources as
      a result of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978. The
      agreement represents a binational, U.S./Canadian commitment to the
      restoration and maintenance of the aquatic resources of the Great
      Lakes.


      Since so many diverse organizations are interested in the continued well
      being of the Bay, an advisory committee was formed to provide a vehicle
      for these groups to play an active role in the RAP process. This was
      also true of many groups who feared that the RAP would ultimately
      restrict their specific use of the Bay; so the advisory committee also
      served as an avenue for input bythem. The final study   , completed in
      December of 1992, was the result of the combined efforts of the Presque
      Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee, comprised of individuals from the
      public, industry, government, recreation, commerce, navigation and other
      interested groups and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
      Resources.


      In order to focus on remedial actions, the RAP first identified any
      impaired uses in the Bay and the sources of those impairments. The
      identification of these impaired uses was based upon the guidelines for
      recommending the listing and delisting for the-Great Lakes Areas of
      Concern (AOC), as established by the International Joint Commission
      (IJC). Presque Isle Bay was designated as an AOC by the U.S. Department
      of State on January 30, 1991. A listing of the impaired Beneficial Uses
      established by the IJC is as follows:

           I)- Fish and Wildlife Consumption
           2)- Tainting of Fish and Wildlife Flavor
           3)- Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations
           4)- Fish Tumors and Other Deformities
           5)- Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems
           6)- Degradation of Benthos
           7)- Restrictions on Dredging Activities


                                        4





            8)- Eutrophication or undesirable Algae
            9)- Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption, Taste or Color
          10)- Beach Closings
          ll)- Degradation of Aesthetics
          12)- Added Costs to Agriculture or Industry
          13)- Degradation of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Populations
          14)- Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat


      The RAP concluded that there are two Beneficial Uses in the Presque Isle
      Bay which are impaired, and one other that has limited impairment.
      Dredging activities and the presence of fish tumors are clearly impaired
      and the use of beaches is partially impaired. The criteria established
      for classifying these beneficial uses as being impaired and the data
      presented to establish their impairment within Presque Isle Bay are as
      ,kollows:

          1. The restriction on dredging activities is impaired when sediment
            contaminant levels exceed current standards. In order to make
            this determination-sediment data from 1982, 1986, and 1990 were
            compared with the current applicable standards (the USEPA Region
            V"guidelines"). This comparison resulted in the conclusion that
            Presque Isle Bay sediments are moderately to heavily polluted for
            most parameters for which standards have been established.
            Specifically, the sediments were found to be contaminated for 10
            metals ( arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead,
            manganese, nickel and zinc), nutrients ( phosphorus and total
            Kjeldahl nitrogen), Carbon Oxygen Demand, cyanide, oil & grease,
            and volatile solids. Sediment levels for polycyclic aromatic
            hydrocarbons (PAHs) may also be elevated but no current standards
            exist for these pollutants.
          2. Fish tumors are considered to be impaired when 1) the incidence of
            fish tumors or other deformities exceed rates at impacted,.control
            sites, or 2) when surveys have confirmed the presence of liver
            tumors in bullheads. Preliminary surveys have demonstrated the
            existence of liver tumors in Presque Isle Bay Bullheads.
          3. Beach closings are considered to be impaired when water quality
            standards for the protection of full water contact recreational
            activities (e.g. swimming) are exceeded. Although the
            Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources has chosen not
            to establish public beaches on the Bay side of Presque Isle State
            Park, water contact recreation is a protected use in the Bay. A
            1985 study determined that standards for the protection of this
            use are being met. More recent data (through 1990) indicate that
            these protective standards continue to be met, with the exception
            of the mouth of Millcreek and other storm water discharge points.

      The Plan indicates these impairments are to be restored completely.

      There is one remaining Beneficial Use, phytoplankton and zooplankton
      productivity, which will require the collection of additional data
      before any conclusions concerning their impairment can be drawn.

      The RAP also concluded that the preservation of environmental quality
      and the restoration of impaired beneficial uses can be achieved through
      existing regulatory programs. Existing programs regulate almost all
      forms of pollutant releases to the environment and therefore have the
      capability of providing adequate controls by focusing the application of


                                          5





     these regulations.

     Persons were selected to serve on the advisory committee to develop the
     RAP because of their desire to improve and maintain the environmental
     quality of the Bay. The plan they have developed provides a plan of
     action for preserving the environmental quality of the Bay and at the
     same time maximizing its use. The causes of the impairments to the
     beneficial uses of the Bay have been defined in the RAP but the sources
     of these impairments are still not known. The implementation of this
     recommendation is far from over; much scientific investigation to
     pinpoint the exact causes of these impairments must still be done. The
     Division of Coastal Programs should be instrumental in the decision
     making process of this recommendation since any course of action for its
     implementation will affect important coastal zone issues. The Division
     of Coastal Programs will expand its contract with the Erie County
     Department of Planning to include a provision for the County's
     attendance at the Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee Meeting and
     the preparation of a report, to update DCP, on pertinent coastal zone
     issues discussed at the meeting.









































                                       6







                   STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS FOR BOATING SAFETY AWARENESS





      Recommendation:

          One-fifth of the boaters sampled reported that other boats had come
          too close to them while boating. Such incidents were one of the
          greatest safety concerns among Presque Isle Bay boaters. All
          pertinent organizations should consider methods of strengthening
          their educational efforts to create more boating safety awareness
          on the Bay-

      Supporting Information:

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study determined, from a
      survey of boaters on the Bay, that near accidents was one of the
      greatest concerns among boaters on the Bay. The findings showed that
      one-fifth of the boaters sampled reported that other boats had come too
      close to them while boating. Therefore, it was recommended that
      organizations involved in boater safety should develop methods for
      increasing boater safety awareness. It should be noted, however, that
      the survey method used measures the perception of boaters, and not the
      actual experience in this regard. Actual accident statistics, as
      discussed with the PA Fish and Boat Commission may not bear out this
      perception. This is discussed further in the next chapter.

      There are three primary organizations which are currently involved in
      promoting boater safety by organizing and conducting boater safety
      courses. These organizations are:

         The  Coast Guard Auxiliary

              The Coast Guard Auxiliary,-a non-profit organization, provides a
              free ten week boater safety course in the fall and spring of
              each year. The Auxiliary advertises these courses on both radio
              and television. They also advertise them by putting up posters
              at sport centers and shopping malls, by putting up banners in
              channels, by notifying boaters of courses while doing safety
              examinations of boats (also a free service provided by the
              Auxiliary), and at the Tri County Sport Show where they setup a
              booth each year. Although the course is free there is a $20.00
              charge for books and materials.

          The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

              The Fish and Boat Commission, an agency of state government,
              provides a basic boating course geared at familiarizing boaters
              with safe boat handling practices. It is an eight hour course,
              consisting of two four hour sessions. It is not designed for
              the boater who wishes to learn the complexities of navigation on
              open waters. The Fish and Boat Commission strives to hold two
              courses per year; one course in the fall and the other.in the
              spring. Notices, of up and coming courses, are placed in the
              local newspapers and on posters displayed in prominent public
              locations. There are no fees associated with this course.



                                        7






           The Power Squadron

              The Power Squadron, a non-profit organization, provides a free
              eight week boater safety course in the spring and fall of each
              year. They advertise these courses through the newspapers, and
              through the radio and television media. They also post notices
              on bulletin boards at boat ramps, at bait shops, at stores
              carrying fishing tackle and fishing licenses and they also post
              a banner adjacent to the Coast Guard headquarters facing the
              channel leading to the bay. Their 1994 spring boating course
              had an excellent turnout (166 in attendance) and registration
              for the fall course is also going very well. This course also
              has no fees but requires a $20.00 charge for books and
              materials.

      Each year these organizations provide a schedule, to the Boating
      Education Hotline, of the times and places that courses are offered.
      Individuals wishing to obtain information about a course can do so by
      dialing 1-800-336-BOAT. This hotline is provided by Boat U.S. which is
      a privately funded organization.

      All three of these organizations provide a certificate which recognizes
      that a boater has successfully completed a course on boater'safety.
      Pennsylvania has recently passed a law which requires individuals
      between the ages of 12 and 16 to possess a certificate in order to
      operate a powered boat with a motor rating of 10 horsepower or greater.
      A certificate from any of these organizations is acceptable to meet this
      requirement.

      All three of the organizers agreed that the attendance at their courses
      is normally very small. One of the reasons suggested by the boater
      organizations, for the low turnout, is a lack of money to provide
      advertising for up coming boater safety courses. The Division of
      Coastal Programs explained, to these organizations, that these costs and
      other costs that they now are expending are eligible for funding
      through a Coastal Zone Management Grant. The organizations expressed an
      interest in applying for a grant so an application package was sent to '
      each organization. It is anticipated that grant monies from the Coastal
      Zone Program will be used to implement this recommendation during the
      1996 Grant Year.






                 MONITOR AREAS WHICH HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR CONGESTION





      Recommendation:

           While it appears that crowding is not an existing problem on
           Presque Isle Bay, areas that were identified as having the
           potential for congestion should be closely monitored by resource
           management personnel to identify safety concerns or environmental
           factors before they become problems in the future.

      Supporting Inf ormation:

      The Coast Guard is authorized to deal with all matters involving
      navigation on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. Their primary
      responsibility is to undertake search and rescue missions but they also
      perform these other duties: responding to emergencies such as boat
      fires, collisions, or rescuing persons stranded in the water,
      maintaining navigation aids such as buoys used to guide vessels into
      docking areas and, responding to oil or chemical spills and insuring
      their containment. The Coast Guard's authorization also extends to the
      initiation of any enforcement actions necessary to insure the safety of
      vessels navigating on coastal waters and the people aboard those
      vessels. The Coast Guard presently patrols the Bay and is constantly on
      the lookout for hazardous situations, such as excessively congested
      areas, which would pose a threat to vessels. Should such a situation be
      detected, the Coast Guard would take the appropriate measures to insure
      the safety of the vessels and the lives of the people aboard them. The
      Coast Guard prepares a report for all incidents on the Bay to which they
      respond.

      The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also has enforcement
      responsibilities in regard to boater safety on Presque Isle Bay. The
      Division of Coastal Programs contacted them and they reported that very
      few safety violations have been documented on the Bay. However due to
      the concerns expressed in the Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating
      Study they have added two additional officers to patrol the waters of
      the Bay. This initiative, by the Fish and Boat Commission, will
      provide the man hours needed to more closely monitor the congested areas
      on the Bay and greatly enhance the implementation of this
      recommendation. Like the Coast Guard; the Fish and Boat Commission also
      prepare reports on any boating incidents to which they respond.

      Both of these regulatory agencies have indicated that they are willing
      to report to DCP, on an annual basis, all boating incidents which have
      occurred on Presque Isle Bay over the previous boating season. The
      report will include any recommendations for the institution of safety
      measures, which have resulted due to these incidents. In order to
      implement this recommendation the Division of Coastal Programs has make
      arrangements with the Erie County Department of Planning, under the
      coordination responsibilities of their CZM grant, to contact these
      agencies on a yearly basis, obtain their records on boating incidents,
      and prepare a brief report based on these records.




                                        9







                   A "NO WAKE" ZONE




      Recommendation:

           A "no wake" zone should be considered for the area depicted on
           exhibit 9-1 as the Head of the Bay Resource Management Area. The
           restricted area should fall within the area where water depth is 6'
           or less. Natural resource managers should conduct additional
           investigations of all ramifications associated with the
           establishment of such an area. Criteria should be developed from
           monitoring this and other environmentally sensitive areas in
           Presque Isle Bay.

      Supporting Information:

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study identified the head of
      the Bay as an area of the Bay which should be managed to protect the
      aquatic and terrestrial resources present. Aquatic and terrestrial
      areas of significance include: a variety of habitats which are
      imperiled,, areas which contain rare,.threatened or endangered species,
      and areas which provide important fish spawning habitat and fish nursery
      grounds. The study recommended that a no wake policy should be
      implemented for all areas, within the head of the bay, where water
      depths of six feet or less exist. Fishing and low-impact boating
      activities would be permissible, while water skiing and power cruising
      should be strictly prohibited.

      The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been assigned the
      responsibility to enforce laws and regulations involving the restriction
      of boater activities on any waters within the Commonwealth and were
      called upon to evaluate the implementation of this recommendation.     As
      a result, staff from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission toured
      the headwaters of Presque Isle Bay during the weekend of June 18, 1994
      to evaluate the need to establish a no wake zone at the head of the Bay.
      The conclusion of their evaluation was that there is no need to
      implement a no wake zone at this time. In addition to touring the area
      to observe any physical evidence of problems related to wakes generated
      by boating; the staff also took into consideration the most frequent
      types of water craft using the area during recent boating seasons.
      Perch anglers typically use the area in the spring and recreational
      boaters other than fisherman typically use the area in the summer when
      the weather warms. High speed watercraft activities, such as water
      skiing, can be a problem but the presence of weed beds discourages much
      of this activity. Rowing teams have also found this area to be suitable
      for.training which further limits the operation of high speed motor
      boats. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will continue to
      educate boaters about the sensitivity of the area and will continue to
      observe boater activity in the future and may consider the institution
      of a no wake zone if so dictated by boater activity.

      It is important to note that the boating study raised the issue with the
      Fish and Boat Commission. The Commission made an initial investigation,
      and while deciding against immediate action, has agreed to keep an open
      mind to future restrictions.




                                        10







                   EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS TO EDUCATE USERS ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY
                   OF THE BAY'S RESOURCESAND WAYS TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL USE
                   CONFLICTS




      Recommendation:

           Educational displays should be developed and placed at key
           locations to educate users about the sensitivity of the Bay's
           resources and ways to minimize potential use conflicts.

      Supporting Information:

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study Task Force decided that
      the group of people being targeted for this recommendation was the same
      as that being targeted in the boater safety awareness recommendation.
      Therefore, the initiation of more public awareness of boater safety,
      through public notices and advertising, would also serve to implement
      this recommendation.

      The Division of Coastal Programs is also planning a poster contest, for
      schools that are located near Presque Isle Bay, to supplement the
      implementation of this recommendation. Details of this contest are
      being developed at this time. The Division of Coastal Programs will
      also be featuring special articles on the sensitivity of the Bay's
      resources and ways to minimize potential use conflicts in its widely
      distributed publication, Coastal Tidings.

      The Division of Coastal Programs will also be taking additional steps to
      solicit more coastal zone management funded educational efforts that
      encourage the preservation of coastal resources by the general public.







                  A CLEAN VESSEL'S SURVEY






     Recommendation:

           The inventory of existing recreational boating facilities indicates
           that four marina pump-out facilities are located within the study
           area. A Clean Vessels Act survey of Presque isle Bay should be
           conducted to determine the adequacy of marina pump-out facilities.
           If found adequate, a petition should be forwarded to the
           Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the use of flow
           through type I and II Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs) in Presque
           Isle Bay.

     Supporting Information:

     The Federal Clean Vessels Act of 1992 was enacted on November 4, 1992.
     The purpose of the Act was to provide funds to States for the
     construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations
     and waste reception facilities. The Clean Vessel Act of 1992 requires
     each coastal state to submit a Clean Vessel Act Survey to the Secretary
     of the Interior (Secretary) within three months after receiving the
     Secretary's notification of the final technical guidelines. Grants will
     be distributed through the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to pay 75%
     of the cost to a coastal state for : 1) conducting the survey, 2)
     developing and submitting a plan and list, 3) constructing and
     renovating marine sanitation devices and waste reception facilities, and
     4) conducting a program for educating boaters about sewage discharges
     from boats.

     Guidelines in the Act identify seven categories under which waters
     are most likely to be affected by the discharge of sewage from vessels.
     Presque Isle Bay qualifies under four of these designated categories. It
     is a sheltered water that is generally poorly flushed, it is a water
     identified as being of National Significance, it is a water of
     significant recreational value, and it is a nursery area of indigenous
     aquatic life.

     A Clean Vessels Act Survey was conducted by the Pennsylvania Fish and
     Boat Commission during the spring of 1994 and it was determined that
     additional pumpout facilities are needed at Presque Isle Bay. Most
     Pennsylvania boats that use Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay are moored or
     launched from the sheltered waters of the Bay. The 1992 Presque Isle
     Bay Recreational Boating Study determined that there are mote than 2,500
     public and private boat slips in the Bay.' There are currently three
     pumpout stations at Presque Isle Bay. One is at the marina at the state
     park, one at the Commodore Perry Yacht Club and the other at the Perry's
     Landing Marina. The latter two are both private marinas located on the
     western end of the Bay. On April 26, 1994 the Fish and Boat Commission,
     Bureau of Boating, submitted a proposal to the U.S. Fish and wildlife
     Service for Federal Aid, under the Clean Vessel Act, to make renovations
     to the existing pumpout facilities at Presque Isle State Park and also
     to construct two new pumpout facilities at Presque Isle Bay. One such
     new facility is planned to be located at the Cherry Street Marina and
     the other at the Presque Isle Yacht Club. The Cherry Street marina is


                                        12





      located on the eastern end of the Bay at the foot of Cherry Street. The
      Presque Isle Yacht Club is located on the West Canal Basin which is also
      on the eastern end of Presque Isle Bay. The objective is to provide
      boater's a convenient alternative to dumping the contents of their waste
      holding tanks overboard. It is felt that if boaters can have their
      holding tanks pumped out for a minimal fee or in connection with routine
      maintenance services, they are more likely to use the pumpout facilities
      as opposed to pumping into the waters of the Bay.

      This recommendation will be fully implemented when Presque Isle Bay has
      been designated as a no discharge area by the EPA. Presque Isle Bay
      will be designated as a no discharge area when:

          1. An adequate number of pumpout stations are in place on the Bay.

          2. The Bureau of Boating petitions EPA to declare Presque Isle Bay
            as a no discharge area.

          3. The EPA approves the Bureau of Boating's petition and declares
            Presque Isle Bay as a no discharge area.

      There is no way of determining when this recommendation can be
      implemented.





































                                       13







                   THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SHOULD REDUCE TOTAL
                   PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS FROM TWO STROKE ENGINES





      Recommendation:

           The EPA, with the support of and in coordination with the boating
           industry, should promote the development of technologies to reduce
           total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from two-stroke outboard marine
           engines. The development of an efficient four-stroke outboard
           marine engine would significantly reduce both TPH and polycyclic
           aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from entering aquatic systems.

      supporting Information:

      A recommendation was put forth by the Presque Isle Bay Recreational
      Boating Study that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the
      support of and in coordination with the boating industry, promote the
      development of technologies to reduce total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH)
     .from, two-stroke outboard marine engines. The study stated that, the
      development of an efficient four stroke outboard-marine engine would
      significantly reduce both TPH and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.(PAH)
      entering aquatic systems. PAH's tend to persist in the environment and
      have been associated with chronic toxic impacts on aquatic organisms.
      Petroleum discharges from boat engines will either collect at the water
      surface, dissolve into the water column, or settle to the bottom.

      The marine engine manufacturers indicate that they have been working
      with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1989 to inventory
      marine engine emissions and establish time schedules for reducing
      pollutants. This effort was being made primarily in response to pending
      air quality legislation, which when passed, will require manufacturers
      of outboard engines and other off road engines to reduce their gaseous
      emissions by 60 to 80%.
      The Association of Marine Engine Manufacturers (AMEM) have projected
      that they can drastically reduce pollutants from outboard engines by the
      year 1998 and will reach the 60 to 80% reduction in total hydroc  *arbons
      by the year 2006. Engine manufacturers are certain that they can meet
      the EPA standards but are not so certain that consumers will readily
      accept the resultant cost increases. Most of the big outboard
      manufacturers have admitted that they will be using either an orbital
      engine or a four cycle engine design. Regardless of which of these
      technologies is eventually selected, the manufacturers have projected
      that the average cost of outboard engines will increase by at least 30%.

      The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has stated that
      gasoline, the primary source of fuel for boaters, contains almost
      no polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. PAH's are known to cause
      mutations, physical deformities, cancerous growths and fetal
      malformations. Actual measurements of emissions from a two stroke
      engine indicated that PAH's accounted for .001 percent of the total
      hydrocarbons emitted. The NMMA also stated that crude oil is a heavy
      molecule that coats any objects in the water and it will also sink into
      the mud. On the other hand, refined oil., like that used in two cycle
      engines floats on the surface and is biodegradable. For these reasons


                                         14





      the NMMA does not consider PAH's to be a major problem.

      Many pleasure boats today utilize a two-stroke outboard marine engine
      because of its weight and size advantages over other available engines.
      The disadvantage of the two stroke engine is that because it lacks
      valves it must accomplish both the exhaust and fuel intake functions
      in a single piston stroke. This results in the passage of as much as
      25% of the unburned fuel/oil mixture out the exhaust. Some studies claim
      that as much as one-third of these hydrocarbon emissions stay in the
      water.


      While the auto industry has been struggling with air quality emissions
      for the past two decades the boating industry has been free of any such
      regulatory constraints.  With the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1990,
      attention has focused on the emissions from non-road engines. The
      Office of Mobile Sources and the Office of Air and Radiation , branch
      offices of the EPA, have been put in charge of developing rules and
      regulations for establishing standards for the control of emissions from
      outboard engines and other non-road engines. The offices dealing
      specifically with outboard engine regulations are headquartered in Ann
      Arbor, Michigan. The coordinator in the Ann Arbor office has indicated
      that proposed rules are scheduled to be established by the end of
      September of 1994. Final rules are scheduled to be in place by November
      of 1995, and the final rules must be implemented within two years after
      they are put in place.

      The implementation of this recommendation will begin in 1997 when the
      final rules of the Clean Air Act of 1990 are scheduled to be
      implemented.































                                        15







                    THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SHOULD SUPPORT RESEARCH
                    OF AN ALTERNATIVE TO COPPER-BASED ANTIFOULING PAINT AND
                    RESOURCE MANAGERS SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE RELEASE OF
                    COPPER IN THE RAY.






      Recommendation:

           EPA should support increased research funding to determine a viable
           alternative to the use of copper-based antifouling paint. State
           resource managers should closely monitor the fate of copper
           released into Presque Isle Bay from wood and steel boats painted
           with copper-based paints.

      Supporting Information:

      Fouling occurs when an unwanted growth occurs on a boat or ship's        hull.
      As a hull is immersed in water its surface quickly absorbs organic
      material, which then promotes the growth of microorganisms, such as
      bacteria and diatoms. This growth of microorganisms results in a slime
      covering on the surface of the hull. This process happens very rapidly
      after immersion. Macrofouling develops soon after. Macrofouling
      consists of softfouling, (algae and invertebrates) and hard fouling,
      (invertebrates such as mussels). The types of organisms which develop
      in a fouling succession depend upon the geographic location and time of
      the year of immersion. Attachment,however, can only take place when
      spores or larvae of a particular organism are present in the water.
      Antifouling paints are commonly used to avoid these unwanted growths.

      The major types of antifouling paints used today are:
                   1. Soluble matrix or conventional paints,
                   2. Contact leaching paints, and
                   3. Self-polishing copolymer (SPC) or ablative paints.


      In soluble matrix paints cuprous oxide or other biocides are
      incorporated into a resin binder. This resin slowly dissolves in
      seawater or freshwater exposing particles of cuprous oxide. The life of
      these paints is usually 12 months but improvements, allowing them to
      erode more readily, have extended their life to 24 months.

      Contact leaching paints are similar to the soluble matrix variety but
      extend the active life up to 15 months by having a higher content of
      copper.

      Self-polishing copolymer (SPC) paints are composed of a copolymer into
      which biocides/pigments (primary copper salts) have been incorporated.
      The copolymer hydrolyzes in seawater or freshwater releasing tributyltin
      and becoming smoother. The active life of the SPC is dependent upon the
      thickness at which the paint is applied (up to 5 years is possible).

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study recommended that the EPA
      support an increase in research funding to determine a viable
      alternative to the use of copper-based anti-fouling paint. It also
      recommended that state resource managers. should closely monitor the


                                           16





     result of copper being released into Presque Isle Bay from boats painted
     with copper-based paints. The reason for making this recommendation was
     because both copper and tributyltin (TBT) have been found, in some
     marina waters in Presque Isle Bay, at levels that are toxic to aquatic
     organisms other than fouling species. Tributyltin has been found to be
     highly toxic and is now regulated by the EPA under the Organotin
     Antifouling Paint Control Act of 1988. This Act prohibits the use of
     paints containing T8T on non-aluminum boats under 25 meters in length.
     In addition, all TBT paints must be certified by the U.S. EPA as
     releasing no more than 4 ug/cm2/day into.water. Therefore the study
     assumed that no recreational boats on Presque Isle Bay are currently
     using TBT.

     The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Bureau of Boating
     informed us that teflon based paints were also introduced several years
     ago and are slowly gaining acceptance. Although they may cost as much
     as 25% to 50% more than copper based paints, this additional cost is
     minimal considering the rather small amount of surface area to be
     painted on the bottom of a recreational boat. Most of the approaches to
     non-biocidal antifouling coatings, such as teflon based paints, have
     utilized the concept of low surface energy to prevent the attachment of
     organisms. Surface energy refers to the bonding strength or adhesive
     properties that an organism exhibits when attached to a specific
    .material. organisms attached to a material with a low surface energy
     can be easily washed away or brushed off.

     Current research on blocidal antifoulings centers on the search for new
     biocides, but the costly procedures for satisfying health, safety and
     environmental requirements may prohibit the development of all but a few
     compounds. The EPA has supported research for findingan alternative to
     copper-based antifouling paints and will continue to do so.

     Chemical sampling completed during the preparation of the Presque Isle
     Bay Recreational Boating Study detected levels of copper which are
     harmful to some aquatic organisms, but the study could not identify
     antifouling paints as being the sole source of these elevated copper
     levels. Resource managers are currently working toward the correction of
     combined sewer overflows, which they believe to be the major contributor
     to the level of copper in the Bay. As part of the combined sewer
     correction program, periodic monitoring of chemical parameters in the
     Bay have been scheduled. As the combined sewer overflows are corrected,
     chemical sampling will indicate whether or not they were the major
     contributors to the elevation of copper in the Bay. If elevated copper
     levels continue to persist then it will be necessary to evaluate the
     release of copper into the Bay by antifouling paints.














                                        17







                   MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP SHOULD CONSIDER A LAKE BLUFF AND
                   SHORELINE PRESERVATION PROGRAM.



      Recommendation:

           Millcreek Township should consider a lake bluff and shoreline land
           preservation program utilizing zoning amendments together with land
           preservation techniques such as donation, acquisition of easements,
           and voluntary conservation agreements, to preserve the unique
           natural resources present along the shoreline. Marinas, which are
           currently permitted in the zoning district fronting the head of the
           Bay, should be prohibited due to the environmental sensitivity of
           the area.

      Supporting Information:

      Millcreek Township is contiguous to the neck of Presque Isle and
      occupies the area adjacent to the head of the Bay. This land area
      consists mostly of a relatively undisturbed woodland which contains the
      only naturally vegetated bay shoreline lake bluff in Pennsylvania.
      It occupies approximately 1900 feet of bay shoreline and includes a 14
      acre mature forest on the bluff slope, dominated mostly by beech and
      sugar maple, and is bordered on the bluff crest by a younger relatively
      undisturbed woodland. The Erie County Natural Heritage Inventory has
      recommended that the 64 acre forest, bluff, and shoreline be preserved
      because it represents a natural community considered to be imperiled.

      The aquatic resources wit hin the head of the bay contain several large
      stands of emergent vegetation including cattail and bur-reed*  Five
      special plant species occur within this community including one species
      classified as being critically imperiled in the State, two as imperiled
      in the State, one as a rare or uncommon species, and one as a plant
      species of special concern. The shallow water depths existing at the
      head of the Bay also foster submerged vegetation which provides fish
      spawning habitat and fish nursery grounds. These are indispensable to
      the continued production of the wide variety of fish that attract
      anglers from distant locations. This in turn has important economic
      implications as well.

      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study recommends that
      Millcreek Township consider a lake bluff and shoreline land preservation
      program. Such a program should utilize zoning amendments together with
      techniques such as donation, acquisition of easements, and voluntary
      conservation agreements, to preserve the unique natural resources
      present along the shoreline. Marinas are currently permitted in the
      zoning district fronting the head of the Bay. The study recommends
      that consideration be given to prohibiting further marina development
      due to the environmental sensitivity of the area.

      Millcreek Township has made application for a CZM grant during the 1995
      grant year to prepare a comprehensive plan. The Division of Coastal
      Programs used this opportunity to request Millcreek Township to include
      a section on Lake bluff and shoreline preservation in the preparation
      of their comprehensive plan. Millcreek Township has responded by
      amending their Coastal Zone Management grant application and including
      a new section on Lake Bluff and Shoreline Land Preservation.



                                        18







                  THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES THROUGH
                  .CONSISTENCY REVIEWS, SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW JOINT PERMIT
                  APPLICATIONS.





      Recommendation:

          The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, especially
          through the consistency review process, together with other state
          reviewing agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, should
          carefully review joint permit applications for waterfront
          development in areas outside the proposed and potential marina
          sites identified in this study.

      Supporting Information:

      A joint permit review process, involving the Pennsylvania Department of
      Environmental Resources (DER), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE),
      and other state reviewing agencies, designed specifically for addressing
      environmental concerns associated with new land development in the
      Coastal Zone has been in place for a number of years and the
      applications are currently being carefully reviewed by these agencies.
      The application review process, however, still needs improvementin the
      timeliness of review..

      The recent decentralization of the Department of Environmental Resources
      and the implementation of a new one stop permitting process in the DER
      regional offices presented an opportunity for the Division of Coastal
      Programs to significantly shorten the environmental review process. The
      Di'vision of Coastal Programs (DCP) accomplished this by arranging to
      receive notice, from the permitting coordinators.in the two DER regions
      having coastal zones, of any permit applications received for projects
      within the coastal zone. DCP then can request a complete permit
      application, including all environmental and engineering studies,
      directly from the coastal municipality. By receiving permitting
      information directly from the municipality DCP can review projects
      concurrently with the other reviewing agencies. Previously many
      valuable weeks of review time, of new coastal zone projects, was lost
      due to the lengthy process involved in the discovery and receipt of
      applications for the projects. This improved procedure will do much to
      help the implementation of this recommendation, and the Department will
      continue to be onthe lookout for other means of streamlining the review
      process.

      The Coastal Zone Management Program will also continue to ensure,
      through its state and federal consistency reviews, that its policies
      (especially its public access, wetlands, and water quality policies) are
      addressed during the joint permit application process. The DER regional
      offices have also agreed to reserve any permitting actions within a
      coastal zone until written notification has been received from the
      Division of Coastal Programs that all coastal zone concerns have been
      addressed.







                                        19







                   THE CITY OF ERIE AND THE ERIE-WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PORT
                  AUTHORITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE IN THE
                  REDEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFRONT.





     Recommendation:

          Almost eight years have passed since the Erie Waterfront
          Comprehensive plan was prepared. Some of the proposed projects
          have changed, such as the marina development planned near the Erie
          International Marine Terminal, east of the Turning Basin. The
          Comprehensive Plan assumed wrongly that the drydock facility was
          not a viable option and the success of Erie Marine Enterprise is
          welcomed. However, many of the recommendations prepared at that
          time are still valid today. The City of Erie and Erie-Western
          Pennsylvania Port Authority should continue to be proactive in
          encouraging public/private sector initiatives to take advantage of
          the waterfront opportunities for redevelopment.

     Supporting Information:

     The Port of Erie has one of the finest natural harbors on the Great
     Lakes. For this reason Erie evolved as an industrial and manufacturing
     center and historically supported an extensive commercial fishery. As
     time passed various factors caused Erie's importance as a shipping port
     to decline. With the demise of Erie as a major port for industrial and
     commercial activities, new demands for recreational boating and fishing
     uses developed. Recreational boating and fishing present many
     opportunities for the redevelopment of the waterfront, which include
     demands for residential uses, commercial uses, and public open space, as
     well as increased recreational boating facilities. As industrial
     facilities down size and consolidate their operations vacant areas along
     the waterfront are created. As these facilities vacate areas on the
     waterfront it is important that the responsible organizations seize the
     opportunity for the creative redevelopment of the waterfront to meet
     such changing needs.

     In recent years the City of Erie and the Erie Western Pennsylvania Port
     Authority have been proactive in the redevelopment of the waterfront
     -along Presque Isle Bay. The We love Erie Days Festival, focusing on
     Dobbin's Landing, has been a mainstay event, over a continuous span of
     19 years. Through the efforts of the City and the Port Authority the
     first segment of the Bayfront Parkway, was completed in 1990. This
     segment of the Parkway provides easy access to the waterfront and its
     historical areas from routes and arteries leading into the City of Erie
     from the south and west. Before construction of the Parkway such access
     was a major impediment to Bayfront development of all types. Work is
     now underway on the East Side Access Road which will complete a loop
     around the Erie metropolitan area and make the waterfront accessible
     from all directions. A Bikeway has been constructed along the
     waterfront to encourage recreational access to the waterfront and its
     many new amenities. New attractions such as a boat race and the Tall
     Ships Festival have helped to stir interest in the waterfront. Other
     new attractions, such as the Niagara Maritime Museum and the Erie County
     Library currently under construction, promise to increase the focus on


                                       20





      the waterfront to an even greater extent.

      Because of the improvements already made along the waterfront and due to
      the commitment by the City and the Port Authority to continue such
      improvements, others have been encouraged to also invest in the
      waterfront. A conceptual design to reconfigure the West Canal Basin in
      order to improve its appeal to prospective tenants has already been
      completed by the Port Authority. The Pennsylvania Electric Company has
      been actively seeking a developer to build a hotel on waterfront
      property they own. These improvements have not come easily but have
      required great effort by the City of Erie, the Erie Western Pennsylvania
      Port Authority, and the County of Erie. These agencies have
      aggressively pursued grants through such agencies as the Pennsylvania
      Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Community
      Affairs, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, and the
      National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide the funding
      necessary to design and build such projects. Without the assistance of
      these outside funds, projects of this magnitude would not be possible.

      A Waterfront Comprehensive Plan was developed for the City of Erie in
      1986 . As part of the implementation of this recommendation it is
      crucial that this plan be evaluated to determine if it is still
      applicable to current waterfront redevelopment needs. If it is found to
      be outdated, CZM grant monies can be made available for its update.
      Since funding is vital to the redevelopment of the waterfront, a section
      in the Comprehensive Plan update should be devoted to the researching of
      available funding sources. This task is expected to be included in the
      CZM grant application-for the 1996 grant year. The City of Erie and the
      Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority have indicated that they will
      continue their efforts in the redevelopment of the waterfront by
      actively pursuing existing funding sources for projects and searching
      for new funding sources to help bolster the possibility of receiving
      grant monies.




























                                        21







                  THE CITY OF ERIE AND THE ERIE-WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PORT
                  AUTHORITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE IN THE
                  REDEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFRONT.






     Recommendation:

          The City of Erie, or the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority,
          should consider providing slips for transient boats along the
          Presque Isle Bay waterfront. There is a known demand for such
          facilities and the City could benefit economically by encouraging,
          more visitation from recreational boaterscruising Lake Erie. The
          area near Dobbins Landing appears to be a viable location.

     Supporting Information-.:

     The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study indicated that there is
     a demand for transient boat slips along the waterfront of Presque Isle
     Bay. Furthermore, the City of Erie would benefit economically by
     encouraging more visitation from recreational boaters cruising Lake
     Erie. The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study recommended the
     area near Dobbins Landing as a viable location for these slips.

     An update of the City's Waterfront Comprehensive Plan was discussed in
     an earlier section of.this report and the issue of transient boat slips
     can best be addressed when this study is updated. The City of Erie
     currently operates two boat launch ramps along Presque Isle Bay but is
     unable to consider the installation of transient boat slips at either
     location at the present. One of the boat launch sites does not have an
     adequate area for transient boat slips and the City is currently
     negotiating a new lease at the other site.

     The Erie - Western Pennsylvania Port Authority realizes that there is a
     need to locate transient boat slips along Presque Isle Bay's waterfront,
     but they also are unable to consider them at the present. They have,
     however, completed a conceptual design to reconfigure the west canal
     basin and this design includes a provision for 40 transient boat slips.
     The Division of Coastal programs can help to implement this
     recommendation by encouraging the Port Authority to actively work on the
     development of the west canal basin. Staff from DCP have already
     contacted the Port Authority and have discussed future grant
     applicAtions.















                                        22







                                  CZM POLICY CHANGE





      The Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study concluded that
      recreational boating does not seriously impact the Bay's ecosystem at
      this time. The Division of Coastal Programs was pleased with these
      findings and considers this to be an opportunity to be proactive to any
      future problems which may arise. For this reason, the.Division of
      Coastal Programs will amend its CZM Policies to make provisions for the
      protection of the Bay from any future impacts which may result from
      recreational boating.














































                                       23







            REFERENCES



      Bureau of Boating, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, A Proposal to
      the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Federal Aid Under the Clean
      Vessel Act, arrisburg, PA . April 26, 1994

      Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources and the Presque Isle
      Bay Public Advisory Committee, Presque Isle Bay Remedial Action Plan,
      December, 1992.

      Henschen, Doug, "Clean Marine Engines" Boating Industry, (October 27,
      1993), 33-36.

      Callow, Maureen, "Ship Fouling: Problems and Solutions" Chemistry and
      Industry, ISSN 009-3068, vol. no. 5, (March 5, 1990), 123-127

      Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc., Presque Isle Bay Recreational Boating Study,
      March 1994.

      Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Division of Coastal
      Programs, Strategy of the Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program,
      March 26,1992.




































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