[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4489-4490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1867]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7444-6]


Connecticut Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Receipt of 
Petition

    Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the 
State of Connecticut requesting a determination of the Regional 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to 
section 312(f)(3) of Pub. L. 92-500 as amended by Pub. L. 95-217

[[Page 4490]]

and Pub. L. 100-4, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary 
removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably 
available for the area encompassing the Connecticut portions of the 
Pawcatuck River, Little Narragansett Bay, portions of Fisher Island 
Sound and all of Stonington Harbor in the town of Stonington, State of 
Connecticut, to qualify as a ``No Discharge Area'' (NDA). The areas 
covered under this petition extends from Wamphassuc Point (41[deg] 19' 
40.63'' N by 71[deg] 55' 15.75'' W) due south past Noyes Shoal to the 
boundary between Connecticut and New York (41[deg] 18' 28.99'' N by 
71[deg] 55' 15.75'' W), easterly following the boundary between 
Connecticut and New York to the intersection of the Connecticut, New 
York and Rhode Island State lines (41[deg] 18' 16.69'' N by 71[deg] 54' 
27.23'' W) and following the boundary between Connecticut and Rhode 
Island to U.S. Route 1 over the Pawcatuck River and including all 
Connecticut waters seaward of U.S. Route 1.
    The State of Connecticut has certified that there will be three 
pumpout facilities located within the proposed area to service vessels 
in the Stonington Harbor and Little Narragansett Bay area. The first is 
a shoreside facility located at the Dodson Boatyard. This pumpout 
facility is connected directly to the Stonington Borough Sewer system 
as permitted by the Stonington Water Pollution Control Authority. It 
has a depth of 6 feet at mean low water. The Dodson Boatyard facility 
is open daily from April, May and October, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 
through September 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The facility staff monitors VHF CH 
78 and may also be contacted at (860) 535-1507. The second shoreside 
facility is located at Norwest Marina. The pumpout unit is located 25 
feet landward of the water and has a hose that extends to the adjacent 
floating service dock. The depth at the service dock is 6 feet at mean 
low water. This pumpout facility discharges directly into the Pawcatuck 
Sewer system. This facility is opened daily from April to November, 8 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The facility staff monitors VHF Channel 68 and may 
also be contacted at (860) 535-1507. The third is a pumpout boat 
berthed at the Westerly Yacht Club that serves the Pawcatuck River, 
Watch Hill Harbor, Fishers Island Sound, Stonington Harbor and Little 
Narragansett Bay in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The boat has a 
holding capacity of 300 gallons. The pumpout boat is available during 
the boating season (April--October), Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. 
to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The schedule is expanded 
during July and August to provide service 7 days a week. The pumpout 
boat staff monitors VHF Channel 9 and may also be contacted by calling 
(401) 348-2538. For all three facilities it has been suggested to call 
ahead for service.
    There are 13 marinas within the proposed No Discharge Area and the 
majority of marinas provide public restrooms for boaters and their 
clientele. During races the Wadawanuck Club also operates a floating 
public restroom at the month of the Stonington Harbor, which consists 
of a floating dock with portable toilets that are serviced and emptied 
onshore by the portable toilet vendor. In addition there are seven 
additional pumpout facilities in the surrounding area of the proposed 
No Discharge Area.
    The State of Connecticut states that the total vessel population is 
1600 vessels, 1548 are identified as recreational, and 52 are 
identified as commercial. The transient vessel population is estimated 
to be 300, which is included in the total figure. It is estimated that 
over 70% of the total vessel population is under 26 feet, and therefore 
do not have any type of Marine Sanitation Device (MSD).
    The resources of the Stonington Harbor, Little Narragansett Bay, 
Pawcatuck River, and Fishers Island Sound are recreational and 
commercial. There are four public beaches, two boat ramps, the Barn 
Island Wildlife Management Area, and Sandy Point (owned by Avalonia 
Land Trust) are located within the proposed No Discharge Area. The area 
is used by both recreational and commercial shell fishermen for the 
harvest of hard clams, small populations of bay scallops, soft shell 
clams and blue mussels. In addition fishing is commonplace and the 
species found in the area are smelt, small cod, flounder, scup, 
menhaden, and white perch. The proposed area has a variety of rich 
natural habitats, and supports a wide diversity of species.
    Comments and reviews regarding this request for action may be filed 
on or before March 17, 2003. 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, 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100, CWQ, Boston, MA 02114-2023. 
Telephone: (617) 918-1538.

    Dated: January 21, 2003.
Robert Varney,
Regional Administrator, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 03-1867 Filed 1-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P