[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17552]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 19, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5016-4]

 

Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Petition

    Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the 
State of Massachusetts 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 and 
treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for 
Westport Harbor and the East and West Branches of the Westport River 
that border the Town of Westport, within the State of Massachusetts to 
qualify as a ``No Discharge Area''.
    The State of Massachusetts (MA) has certified that there are two 
pump-out facilities available to service vessels in the Westport Harbor 
and the Westport River.
    One pump-out facility, which is mobile, is located at the Town Pier 
on the north side of the Westport Harbor. This facility has a holding 
capacity of 650 gallons and it is marked with a yellow and maroon U.S. 
EPA issued boat pump-out sign. The hours of operation will be upon 
request during the summer season from Memorial Day through Columbus Day 
seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. by calling the 
Harbormaster's office at (508) 636-1105 or by radio on Channel 9 VHF. 
The mobile boat pump-out has a draft requirement of 2 feet. Vessels 
located in waters with depths of less than 2 feet may need to move to 
deeper water to be pumped out. The cost is free and will be absorbed 
through boating licenses for the season.
    A second pump-out facility will be established at Tripps Marina. 
The hours of operation during the summer season from Memorial Day 
through Columbus Day are seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 
Sunday. There is no fee to use the pump-out facility. Tripps is the 
largest marina in Westport with 250 slips and 150 moorings. There are 
fuel facilities, on-shore toilet and shower facilities, and a waste oil 
receptacle available to boaters.
    The Town operates and maintains a 1000 gallon above ground holding 
tank for septage with secondary containment on the south side of 
Westport Harbor. The tank is located adjacent to the State Boat Ramp 
and may be accessed from the water.
    Septage is collected by Ocean Arks, Inc., a research facility 
located in Marion, MA. In the event that Ocean Arks, Inc. ceases to 
accept the boat septage, the Town of Westport has a renewable contract 
with New England Sanitation, a licensed septic hauler, located in 
Westport, MA. Septage that is removed by New England Sanitation will be 
treated at the Fall River Wastewater Treatment Facility in Fall River, 
MA.
    Westport has both coastal and estuarine waters which support year-
round commercial fishing and shellfishing activities. Additionally, 
recreational swimming and boating draws tens of thousands of daily 
visitors to the Town in the summer. Currently, there are a total of 
1,250 acres closed to shellfishing, 550 acres open on a conditional 
basis, and 1489 acres permanently open. As a result of Westport's 
economy needing the recreational and commercial money derived from this 
resource, it is necessary to insure that the coastal and estuarine 
waters of the Town are pollution free. Programs are in place to help 
identify those areas that are most polluted and the sources of those 
pollutants. There are an estimated 350 moored boats in the East Branch 
of the Westport River, 100 moored boats in the West Branch, 770 moored 
boats in the Westport Harbor, and approximately 20 transient vessels 
which enter the harbor each day through the mouth of the harbor during 
the boating season. Westport is approximately 14 miles long, 5.2 miles 
wide, with a total area of 57 square miles.
    Comments and views regarding this request for action may be filed 
on or before August 5, 1994. Such communications, or requests for 
information or a copy of the applicant's petition, should be addressed 
to Janet C. Labonte, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--Region I, 
Marine and Estuarine Protection Section (WQE), JFK Federal Building, 
Boston, MA, 02203. Telephone: 617/565-3550.

    Dated: July 5, 1994.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-17552 Filed 7-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P