[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 44255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22198]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6146-5]


Massachusetts Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Notice of 
Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On June 26, 1998, a document 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 coastal regions of the town of Harwich, State 
of Massachusetts. The petition was filed pursuant to section 312(f)(3) 
of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public laws 95-217 and 100-4, for 
the purpose of declaring these waters a ``No Discharge Area'' (NDA).
    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 information submitted to me by the State of Massachusetts 
certified that there are two facilities to service the town of Harwich, 
MA. A stationary shore side pumpout 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 1 through November 15, 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 pumpout boat typically docked at Saquatucket Municipal 
Marina, unless the private marinas request it for a short period of 
time. This pumpout 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 pumpout boat will be 
available May 1 through November 15, and service is normally available 
Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m., weather permitting.
    In addition to these pumpout 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 pumpout facility at the 
Saquatucket Municipal Marina and the pumpout 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 of 
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 the site of the town's commercial aquaculture operations. The 
beaches are located on the contiguous boundary with Nantucket Sound.
    Therefore, based on an examination of the petition and its 
supporting information, which included site visits by EPA New England 
staff, I have determined that adequate facilities for the safe and 
sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are 
reasonably available for the areas covered under this determination 
which 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''. This determination is made pursuant to 
section 312 (f)(3) of Public Law 92-500, as amended by Public Laws 95-
217 and 100-4.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
[FR Doc. 98-22198 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]
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