[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62668-62669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30023]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6476-7]


City of Key West No Discharge Zone Determination

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Regional 
Administrator concurs with the

[[Page 62669]]

determinations of the State of Florida that adequate and reasonably 
available pumpout facilities exist around the waters (out to 600 feet 
from shore) of the Island of Key West. A petition was received from the 
State of Florida requesting a determination by the Regional 
Administrator, 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 of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the 
waters around the City of Key West to qualify as a No Discharge Zone 
(NDZ). This action is taken under section 312(f)(3) of the Clean Water 
Act.
    This determination was published in the Federal Register on August 
25, 1999 (64 FR 46390), and comments were received through September 
24, 1999. EPA Region 4 received 27 comment letters (19 in favor, 8 
opposed) concerning this NDZ designation. Six of the opposition letters 
state that insufficient pumpout facilities exist. EPA and the State of 
Florida found the following facilities available for pumping out vessel 
holding tanks in the City of Key West area. Their address, telephone 
number, hours of operation and draft are as follows:
    A. Galleon Marina; 619 Front Street, Key West, Florida 33040; 305-
292-1292; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 7 days/week; 45' draft.
    B. Historic Seaport at Key West Bight; 201 William Street, Key 
West, Florida 33040; 305-293-8309; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (summer) 7 a.m.-5 p.m. 
(winter) 7 days /week; 12' draft.
    C. Key West Conch Harbor; 951 Caroline Street, Key West, Florida 
33040; 305-294-2933; 6 a.m.-Sunset 7 days/week; 10' draft.
    D. Garrison Bight Marina; Garrison Bight Causeway, Key West, 
Florida 33040; 305-292-8167; 24 hours/day 7 days/week; 7' draft; mobile 
pumpout barge operated 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 1' draft.
    E. Sunset Marina; 5555 College Road, Stock Island, Key West, 
Florida 33040; 305-296-7101; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; 6.5' draft.
    Additional pumpout facilities are being installed at several other 
marinas within city limits. The facilities at A & B Marina are 
scheduled for completion by September 1, 1999. The Key West Yacht Club 
is currently seeking permits for a pumpout facility. The Historic 
Seaport at Key West Bight has budgeted funds for installation of 
dockside pumpouts for charterboats within the next fiscal year. 
Therefore EPA Region 4 continues to concur with the State of Florida 
that adequate and reasonably available pump out facilities exist for 
NDZ designation. Other points in opposition included the efficiency of 
the city sewer system, the effectiveness of Type I and Type II MSDs, 
and the relative contribution of MSD effluent to the overall ecosystem. 
The effluent discharge from Type I and Type II MSDs contain elevated 
levels of nutrients and a variety of disinfectants which can degrade 
water quality and adversely impact the coral reef ecosystem. The City 
of Key West is currently in the process of upgrading its sewage 
treatment facility to advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) and deep well 
injection. This will result in the removal of all nutrients and other 
pollutants from surface waters.

John H. Hankinson, Jr.,

Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 99-30023 Filed 11-16-99; 8:45 am]
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