[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 64 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17500-17501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8145]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6566-1]


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

    Notice is hereby given that a petition dated June 28, 1999 was 
received from the State of New Jersey requesting a determination by the 
Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 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 Shrewsbury 
River, County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey.
    This petition was made by the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in cooperation with the North Coast 
Regional Environmental Planning Council (NCREPC), New Jersey Marine 
Sciences, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Monmouth County 
Planning Board, Monmouth County Environmental Council and Monmouth 
County Board of Health. Members of the NCREPC include the Borough of 
Eatontown, the Borough of Fair Haven, the Borough of Little Silver, the 
City of Long Branch, the Borough of Monmouth Beach, the Borough of 
Oceanport, the Borough of Red Bank, the Borough of Rumson, the Borough 
of Sea Bright, the Borough of Shrewsbury, the Township of Shrewsbury, 
the Borough of Tinton Falls, and the Borough of West Long Branch. 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 Shrewsbury River in accordance with 
Section 312(f)(3) of the Clean Water Act and 40 CFR 140.4(a).
    The Shrewsbury River is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and 
is part of the Atlantic Coastal Drainage Basin. The Shrewsbury River 
drains approximately 27 square miles of urban/suburban residential 
development and agricultural lands. The Shrewsbury River runs easterly 
from Eatontown, Tinton Falls, and West Long Branch, New Jersey and then 
joins the Navesink River and empties into Sandy Hook Bay. The proposed 
No Discharge Area (NDA) would include the navigable waters of the 
Shrewsbury River and all its tributaries downstream to the point where 
the Route 36 Bridge crosses the river. The eastern boundary of the NDA 
is a line from Lat./Long. 73 deg.58'45", 40 deg.22'40" to Lat./Long. 
73 deg.58'58", 40 deg.23'04". The western boundary of the NDA is at 
Lat./Long. 74 deg.06'48", 40 deg.19'12".
    Information submitted by the State of New Jersey and the Shrewsbury 
Regional Environmental Planning Council states that there are six 
existing pump-out facilities at five different locations available to 
service vessels which use the Shrewsbury River. Atlantis Yacht Club, 
located at 66 River Avenue, Monmouth Beach, operates a stationary 
pumpout. The pumpout is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning April 
until October and is operated by the marina staff. A $5.00 fee is 
charged for the use of the pumpout. Carriage House Marina, located at 
1200 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright, operates a stationary pumpout and a 
portable pumpout. The pumpouts are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
beginning May until October and is operated by the marina staff. A fee 
of $5.00 is charged for the use of the pumpout. Channel Club Marina, 
located at Channel Drive, Monmouth Beach, operates a stationary 
pumpout. The pumpout is available from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning 
May until October and is operated by the marina staff. No fee is 
charged for use of the pumpout. Navesink Marina, located at 1410 Ocean 
Avenue, Sea Bright, operates a stationary pumpout. The pumpout is 
available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning April until October and 
is operated by the marina staff. A $5.00 fee is charged for the use of 
the pumpout. Oceanport Landing, located at 417 River Street, Oceanport, 
operates a portable pumpout. The pumpout is available from 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. beginning April until September and is operated by the marina 
staff. A $5.00 fee is charged for use of the pumpout. In the case of 
slip holders and residents of Oceanport, the $5.00 fee is waived. None 
of the facilities have draft restrictions which would exclude boats 
access to the pumpouts.
    Vessel waste generated from the pumpout facilities within the 
proposed NDA is discharged into municipal sewer lines and is conveyed 
to the Northeast Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority (NJPDES Permit No. 
NJ0024520) at 1 Highland Avenue in Monmouth Beach for treatment.

[[Page 17501]]

    According to the State's petition, the maximum daily vessel 
population for the waters of Shrewsbury River is approximately 2115 
vessels. This estimate is based on (1) vessels docked at marinas and 
yacht clubs (1303 vessels), (2) vessels docked at non-marina facilities 
(584 vessels) and (3) transient vessels (228 vessels). The vessel 
population based on length is 2240 vessels less than 26 feet in length, 
700 vessels between 26 feet and 40 feet in length and 175 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 between two and four pumpouts are needed for the 
Shrewsbury River. As previously stated, five pumpout facilities are 
currently available to service the boating population. Additionally, 
three additional pumpouts have applied for pumpout grant funding.
    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 Shrewsbury 
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 Shrewsbury River.
    Comments and views regarding this petition and EPA's tentative 
determination may be filed on or before May 3, 2000. 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: March 16, 2000.
Jeanne M. Fox,
Regional Administrator, Region II.
[FR Doc. 00-8145 Filed 3-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U