[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21588]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 2, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5063-4]

 

Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard for Coastal 
Waters of Westport; Notice of Determination

    On July 19, 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 Westport Harbor and the 
East and West Branches of the Westport River that border the Town of 
Westport, within the State of Massachusetts (56 FR 36758). 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 State of Massachusetts has certified that there are two pump-
out facilities available to service vessels in the Westport Harbor and 
the Westport River.
    Pump-out facility No. 1, 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 a.m. to 2 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.
    Pump-out facility No. 2 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 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 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.
    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.
    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 
July 19, 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 the 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''.
    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: August 23, 1994.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-21588 Filed 9-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6530-50-P