[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12093-12094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6382]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5976-8]


New Jersey State Prohibition on Marine Discharges of Vessel 
Sewage; Receipt of Petition and Tentative Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notification is hereby given that a petition was received from the 
State of New Jersey on October 10, 1997, requesting a determination by 
the Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency , pursuant 
to section 312(f) of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Law 95-217 
and Public Law 100-4 (the Clean Water Act), that adequate facilities 
for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all 
vessels are reasonably available for the waters of the Manasquan River, 
Counties of Monmouth and Ocean, State of New Jersey.
    This petition was made by the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in cooperation with the Monmouth-Ocean 
Alliance to Enhance the Manasquan River. Upon receipt of an affirmative 
determination in response to this petition, NJDEP would completely 
prohibit the discharge of sewage, whether treated or not, from any 
vessel in Manasquan River in accordance with section 312(f)(3) of the 
Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 140.4(a).
    The Manasquan River is located in central New Jersey and runs 
southeasterly through Monmouth County for more than 23 miles before 
emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Manasquan Inlet. The Manasquan 
River is classified as a medium river with a drainage area of 81 square 
miles. The lower 6.5 miles of the river forms the estuary that is 
bordered by Wall Township, Brielle Borough and Manasquan Borough to the 
north and Brick Township, Point Pleasant Borough and Point Pleasant 
Beach borough to the south. The proposed No-Discharge Zone would 
include all navigable waters in the Manasquan Estuary beginning at 
Manasquan Inlet and including Stockton Lake, Glimmer Glass, Lake Louise 
and Point Pleasant Canal up to the Route 88 bridge.
    Information submitted by the State of New Jersey and the Monmouth-
Ocean Alliance to Enhance the Manasquan River states that there are 
five existing pump-out facilities available and two portable toilet 
dump stations to service vessels which use the Manasquan River. Brielle 
Marine Basin, located at 608 Green Avenue, Brielle, operates a 
stationary pumpout and a portable pumpout. The pumpouts are available 
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are operated by the marina staff. Brielle 
Yacht Club, located 201 Union Lane, Brielle, operates a stationary 
pumpout. The pumpout is available from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is 
operated by the marina staff. Manasquan River Club, located at 217 
Riverside Drive, Brick, operates a portable toilet dump station. The 
dump station is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is self-operated. 
Suburban Boatworks and Marina, located at 1500 Riverside Drive, Brick, 
operates a stationary pumpout and a portable toilet dump station. The 
pumpout and dump station are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are 
operated by the marina staff. Crystal Point Yacht Club, located at 4000 
River Road, Point Pleasant, operates a stationary pumpout. The pumpout 
is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is self-operated. All marinas 
charge a $5.00 fee for use of the pumpout/dump facilities. Only one 
facility, Manasquan Marine Center, has a draft restriction at the 
pumpout which would exclude boats with a draft 3 feet or greater. Six 
facilities are proposing to construct seven additional pumpout 
facilities (one is actually a replacement of an existing pumpout with 
two sub-stations) and three portable toilet dump stations. These 
proposed facilities were scheduled to be completed by September 1997. 
Two other facilities, Manasquan Municipal Marina and Bogan's Deep Sea 
Fishing Center, have pump-out facilities but their use is not available 
to the public and were not counted when assessing the adequacy of 
pumpouts in the proposed area.
    Within six nautical miles of the Manasquan River are eight 
additional pump-out facilities and two portable toilet dump stations. 
Three facilities are located on the Shark River, three facilities are 
located on the Metedeconk River and two facilities are on Barnegat Bay.
    Vessel waste generated from the pump-out facilities in the Monmouth 
County is conveyed to the South Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority 
(NJPDES Permit No. NJ0024520). Vessel waste generated from the pump-out 
facilities in the Ocean County is conveyed to the Ocean County 
Utilities Authority--Northern Plant (NJPDES Permit No. NJ0028142). 
These plants operate under permits issued by the New Jersey Department 
of Environmental Protection.
    According to the State's petition, the maximum daily vessel 
population for the waters of Manasquan River is approximately 2624 
vessels. This estimate is based on (1) vessels docked at marinas and 
yacht clubs (1940 vessels), (2) vessels docked at non-marina facilities 
(559 vessels) and (3) transient vessels (125 vessels). The vessel 
population based on length is 1505 vessels less than 26 feet in length, 
885 vessels between 26 feet and 40 feet in length and 234 vessels 
greater than 40 feet in length. Based on number and size of boats, and 
using various methods to estimate the number of holding tanks, it is 
estimated that 3 to 5 pumpouts are needed for the Manasquan River.
    The EPA hereby makes a tentative affirmative determination that 
adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of 
sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the Manasquan 
River in the counties of Monmouth and Ocean, New Jersey. A final 
determination on this matter will

[[Page 12094]]

be made following the 30 day period for public comment and will result 
in a New Jersey State prohibition of any sewage discharges from vessels 
in Manasquan River.
    Comments and views regarding this petition and EPA's tentative 
determination may be filed on or before April 13, 1998. Comments or 
requests for information or copies of the applicant's petition should 
be addressed to Walter E. Andrews, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region II, Water Programs Branch, 290 Broadway, 24th Floor, New 
York, New York, 10007-1866. Telephone: (212) 637-3880.

    Dated: February 19, 1998.
William J. Muszynski,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-6382 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P