[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 12094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6388]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5976-7]


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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    Notice is hereby given that a petition was received from the State 
of New Jersey on September 3, 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 navigable waters of the Shark 
River, Monmouth County, State of New Jersey.
    This petition was made by the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in cooperation with Monmouth County 
and the Shark River Roundtable. 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 the Shark River in accordance with section 312(f)(3) of the 
Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 140.4(a).
    The Shark River, located in central New Jersey, has its headwaters 
in Tinton Falls and flows into its estuary of approximately 810 acres. 
The estuary is surrounded by the towns of Avon-by-the-Sea, the Borough 
of Belmar, Neptune City, Neptune Township and Wall Township. The river 
empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Shark River Inlet. The Shark 
River drains a watershed area of 23 square miles. The proposed No-
Discharge Zone would include all navigable waters in the Shark River 
beginning at the Shark River Inlet.
    Information submitted by the State of New Jersey, the Monmouth 
County, and the Shark River Roundtable states that there are two 
existing pumpout facilities available and two portable toilet dump 
stations to service vessels which use the Shark River. Belmar Municipal 
Marine Basin, located at 900 Marine Avenue, Belmar, operates a 
stationary pumpout and a dump station for portable toilets. The pumpout 
and dump station are available at all hours and are operated by the 
marina staff from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m or by the boater at all other hours. 
Main One Marina, located at 1 Main Street, Avon, operates a stationary 
pumpout and a portable toilet dump station. The pumpout and dump 
station are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are operated by marina 
staff. Total Marine at Seaview, located at 120 Sea Spray Lane, Neptune, 
operates a stationary pumpout which serves boats docked at the marina 
only. The pumpout is available on demand. This facility was not 
included in the assessment of adequacy of pumpouts available to the 
boating population since 90% of the vessels are excluded from its use.
    Four facilities are proposing to construct additional pumpout 
facilities (one each). Shark River Hills Marina, Shark River Hills 
Beach and Yacht Club, Shark River Yacht Club and Belmar Municipal 
Marina have applied for Clean Vessel Act grants to fund the 
installation of pumpout facilities. All existing and proposed pumpout 
facilities are located in areas where six feet mean low water depth is 
avalable. No vessels will be excluded from use of the pumpouts due to 
draft restrictions.
    Vessel waste generated from the pump-out facilities in Wall 
Township and the Borough of Belmar is conveyed to the South Monmouth 
Regional Sewage Authority (NJPDES Permit No. NJ0024520). Vessel waste 
generated from the pump-out facilities in Avon, Neptune City and 
Neptune Township is conveyed to the Neptune Township Sewage Authority 
(NJPDES Permit No. NJ0024872). 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 Shark River is approximately 1183 vessels. This 
estimate is based on (1) vessels docked at marinas and yacht clubs (882 
vessels), (2) vessels docked at non-marina facilities (129 vessels) and 
(3) transient vessels (172 vessels). The vessel population based on 
length is 872 vessels less than 26 feet in length, 263 vessels between 
26 feet and 40 feet in length and 48 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 1 to 2 
pumpouts are needed for the Shark 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 Shark River in 
the County of Monmouth, New Jersey. A final determination on this 
matter will 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 the Shark 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. Musynski,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-6388 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P