[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11696]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-4884-5]

 

Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard for Coastal 
Waters of Falmouth and Mashpee

Notice of Determination

    On March 10, 1994, notice 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 the coastal waters of Waquoit Bay, that border 
the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee, within the State of Massachusetts 
(56 FR 57891). The petition was filed pursuant to section 312(f)(3) of 
Pub. L. 92-500 as amended by Pub. L. 95-217 and Pub. L. 100-4.
    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 pump-out facilities available to service 
vessels in Waquoit Bay that border the coastal waters of Falmouth and 
Mashpee.
    Pump-out facility No. 1 is located at the Edwards Boat Yard, on the 
Childs River in Falmouth. This facility will provide stationary pump-
out service and will be available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. Memorial Day through Columbus Day. During the rest of the 
year, the pumpout facility will operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 
a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and half days on Saturdays several weeks before 
Memorial Day and after Columbus Day. There will be a $5.00 fee per 
pump-out.
    Pump-out facility No. 2 is located at the Little River Boat Yard, 
on Seconsett Island in Mashpee. This facility will provide stationary/
mobile pump-out service seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Business hours at other times of the 
year will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the 
summer season, the mobile service will make a scheduled round of 
Waquoit Bay to provide service to moored boats throughout the bay, 
including transient boats located along the shores of Washburn Island. 
Mariners will be able to contact the operator by marine radio (Channel 
09 VHF-FM) or visible signal to request a pump-out. The remainder of 
the time, the facility will be docked so that pump-out service will be 
available for any boats wishing to use it. There will be a $5.00 fee 
per pump-out.
    All pump-out waste will be stored in a 2000 gallon licensed tight 
tank at the Edward's Boat Yard. A licensed hauler will remove the waste 
and dispose of it in the Falmouth Sewage Treatment Plant which is 
approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to 
receive boat waste.
    Marinas are found along the Childs and Little River and docks line 
the bay's tributaries and salt ponds. Currently, there are an estimated 
2610 boats in Waquoit Bay and its tributaries and salt ponds with 
approximately 570 boats having some type of Marine Sanitation Device 
(MSD) based on their size classification. Waquoit Bay is 931 acres in 
size with a watershed of approximately 20 square miles.
    There were no comments received by the Agency on the merits of the 
petition prior to the deadline for receipt of comments as stated in the 
March 10, 1994 Federal Register ``Receipt of Petition'' notice.
    Based on an examination of the petition, and its supporting 
information which included a site visit by EPA Region I staff, and the 
fact that the Agency received no comments concerning the petition, I 
have determined that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary 
removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably 
available for Waquoit Bay and its tributaries and salt ponds that 
border the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee, within the State of 
Massachusetts, to qualify as a ``No Discharge Area''.
    This determination is made pursuant to Section 312(f)(3) of Pub. L. 
92-500, as amended by Pub. L. 95-217 and Pub. L. 100-4.

    Dated: May 2, 1994.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-11696 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P