[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22943-22944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10886]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5818-1]


Lake Hartwell No Discharge Zone Determination

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Regional 
Administrator concurs with the determinations of the States of South 
Carolina and Georgia that adequate and reasonably available pump out 
facilities exist at Lake Hartwell. A petition was received from the 
State of South Carolina and concurred with by the State of Georgia 
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 of sewage from all vessels are 
reasonably available for Hartwell Lake to qualify as a ``No Discharge 
Zone'' (NDZ).
    The proposed action was previously noticed in the Federal Register, 
Vol. 60, No. 91, Thursday May 11, 1995. Since that time, 16 letters 
supporting NDZ designation and 4 letters opposing NDZ designation have 
been received. Questions were raised concerning the availability of 
pump out facilities in the letters which opposed NDZ designation.
    On May 22, 1996, representatives from the US Army Corps of 
Engineers (COE), Region 4 EPA, and South Carolina Department of Health 
and Environmental Control participated in an on site investigation of 
Lake Hartwell to determine the availability of pump out facilities and 
address the concerns raised in the dissenting letters. Based upon the 
field data collected, it was determined at a November 26, 1996 meeting 
at the COE Lake Hartwell Office to proceed with NDZ designation, since 
adequate pump out facilities are available and the addition of future 
pump out facilities is very probable.
    This action is taken under Section 312 (f)(3) of the Clean Water 
Act which states:


[[Page 22944]]


    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.

    EPA's action allows prohibition regarding discharge from vessels to 
be applied by the State of South Carolina and Georgia for Lake 
Hartwell. EPA found the following existing facilities available for 
pumping out vessel holding tanks in Lake Hartwell. Their address, 
telephone number, hours of operation and draught are as follows:
    A. Hartwell Marina; 1500 North Forest Avenue, Hartwell, Georgia 
30643; 706-376-5441; 9 AM-5 PM; seven days a week; 15-18 foot draught.
    B. Portman Shoals Marina; Route 11, Anderson, South Carolina 29624; 
864-226-3339; 24 hours year round; 25 foot draught.
    C. Western Carolina Sailing Club; 5200 Westwind Way, Anderson, 
South Carolina 29624; 864-226-6561 private club; 8 foot draught.
    The marinas proposing to add pump out facilities in the near future 
are:
    A. Seneca Marina; Box 1591, Clemson, South Carolina 29631; 864-653-
6900; April 15--October 15 8-6, otherwise 9-3, 30 foot draught.
    B. Big Water Marina; Route 2, Box 133A, Big Water Road, Star, South 
Carolina 29684; 864-226-3339; 9-5, closed on Tuesday, 60 foot draught.
    The number of boats with marine sanitation devices (MSD's) using 
the lake has been estimated to be 580. The ratio of boats with MSD's to 
pump out facilities is therefore 193 boats per pump out facility.
    The petition from South Carolina and Georgia notes that each of the 
three marinas with existing pump out facilities have waste treatment 
systems that comply with federal law. Hartwell Marina and Portman 
Marina pump out facilities discharge into State approved and regulated 
septic tanks. Western Carolina's facilities discharge into a large 
holding tank which is collected by a privately owned septage hauler and 
transported to an Anderson County waste water treatment plant.
    Comments concerning this action may be filed on or before (30 days 
from this notice). Such communications should be addressed to Wesley B. 
Crum, Chief, Coastal Programs and Surface Water Quality Grants Section, 
USEPA, Region 4, Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30303-3104. Telephone 404-562-9352.

    Approved by:
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-10886 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6560-50-P