[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34873-34874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16799]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6114-7]


Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Receipt of 
Petition

    Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the 
State of Massachusetts requesting a determination of the Regional 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to 
section 312(f)(3) of Public Law 92-500 as amended by Public Law 95-217 
and Public Law 100-4, that adequate facilities for the safe and 
sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are 
reasonably available for the coastal regions of the town of Harwich, 
State of Massachusetts, to qualify as a ``No Discharge Area'' (NDA). 
The areas covered under this petition include the major harbors and 
contiguous beaches between and including Allen , Wychmere and 
Saquatucket harbors and to the Herring River. The latitudes and 
longitude defining the boundaries are Town line of Dennis 
70 deg.07'03'', 41 deg.39'16'', Herring River 70 deg.06'33'', 
41 deg.40'08'', Allens Harbor 70 deg.05'22'', 41 deg.40'04'', Wychmere 
Harbor 70 deg.03'56'', 41 deg.40'04'', Saquatucket Harbor 
70 deg.03'31'', 41 deg.40'09'', Town line of Chatham 70 deg.02'17'', 
41 deg.39'58'', and the water boundaries are 70 deg.02'55'', 
41 deg.39'52'',--70 deg.04'38'', 41 deg.39'46'',--70 deg.06'00'', 
41 deg.39'35''.
    The State of Massachusetts has certified that there are two 
facilities to service the town of Harwich. A stationary shore side 
pump-out facility at the Saquatucket Municipal Marina has a 60 gallon 
per cycle capacity with discharge to a 2,500 gallon tight tank. This 
facility provides access for vessels with 6 feet draft at mean low 
water. This facility is available daily from May 1st through November 
15th, weather permitting and open during daylight hours. Harbormaster 
personnel will be available to demonstrate the self-service system 
Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m, to 3 p.m. The Harwich 
Harbormaster's office number is (508) 430-7532. The second facility is 
a pump-out boat typically docked at Saquatucket Municipal Marina, 
unless the private marinas request it for a short period of time. This 
pump-out boat will come to individual boats by appointment, which can 
be made by calling the Harwich Harbormaster on channel VHF 68 or 
calling the office at (508) 430-7532. The pump-out boat will be 
available May 1st through November 15th , and service is normally 
available

[[Page 34874]]

Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m., weather permitting.
    In addition to these pump-out facilities, there is a town comfort 
station located on the Allen harbor town boat ramp parking area, and 
the Saquatucket Municipal Marina has on-shore bathroom and shower 
facilities available 24 hours a day. There are also private facilities 
at the Allen Harbor Yacht Club.
    The waste from stationary shore side pump-out facility at the 
Saquatucket Municipal Marina and the pump-out boat is collected and 
stored in a Department of Environmental Protection approved, 2,500 
gallon tigh tank. This tank is fitted with alarms that activate in time 
to ensure waste removal long before the capacity is reached. The town 
of Harwich has an annual agreement with a licensed waste hauler to 
pump-out, on demand by the Harbormaster, and then transport the septage 
to the Town of Yarmouth's Sewage Treatment Facility. The Town Harwich 
has a contract with the Town of Yarmouth for the use of the Yarmouth-
Dennis Septage Treatment Facility.
    There are approximately 753 boats either moored or docked within 
Herring Creek, Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor and Saquatucket Harbor 
and are primarily ``parking lot'' harbors where the majority of boats 
are under 27 feet. Of these 735 boats there are 35 commercial fishing 
vessels, and an estimated transient population of 68 vessels.
    The resources of the Herring Creek, Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor 
and Saquatucket Harbor are recreational and commercial. Wychmere Harbor 
is used by both recreational and commercial shell fishermen for the 
harvest of quahogs, clams, oysters, and bay scallops. Saquatucket 
Harbor is also used by both recreational and commercial shell fishermen 
for the harvest of quahogs, clams, oysters and is the site of the 
Town's commercial aquaculture operations. The beaches are located on 
the contiguous boundary with Nantucket Sound.
    Comments and reviews regarding this request for action may be filed 
on or before July 27, 1998. Such communications, or requests for 
information or a copy of the applicant's petition, should be addressed 
to Ann Rodney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--New England 
Region, Water Quality Unit (CWQ), JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 
02203. Telephone: 617-565-4885. E-Mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 17, 1998.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
[FR Doc. 98-16799 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P