[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 73 (Thursday, April 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20008-20009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8576]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7648-1]


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 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 area between Wamphassuc Point and Eastern 
Point, including portions of Fishers Island Sound, Pine Island Bay, 
Baker Cove, Mumford Cove, West Cove, Mystic Harbor, Mystic River, 
Quiambog Cove, lower portions of the Poquonnock River and lower 
portions of Palmer Cove in the State of Connecticut, to qualify as a 
``No Discharge Area'' (NDA). The area covered under this petition 
extends from Eastern Point, Groton at (41[deg]19[min]08.94[sec] N by 
72[deg]04[min]31.09[sec] W) due south to the boundary between 
Connecticut and New York at (41[deg]15[min]54.55[sec]N by 
72[deg]04[min]31.09[sec] W), then northeasterly following the boundary 
between Connecticut and New York to (41[deg]17[min]26.34[sec] N x 
72[deg]01[min]10.94[sec] W) then continuing northeasterly following the 
boundary between Connecticut and New York to (41[deg]18[min]37.84[sec] 
N x 71[deg]55[min]47.63[sec] W) then south east following the boundary 
between Connecticut and New York to a point due south of Wamphassuc 
Point at (41[deg]18[min]28.99[sec] N by 71[deg]55[min]15.75[sec] W), 
then due north past Noyes shoal to Wamphassuc Point 
(41[deg]19[min]40.63[sec] N by 71[deg]55[min]15.75[sec] W).
    The State of Connecticut has certified that there are 13 pumpout 
units at 11 facilities located in Mystic, Noank, and Groton to service 
vessels within the proposed NDA. A list of the facilities, phone 
numbers, locations, and hours of operation is appended at the end of 
this petition. Of the 13 current facilities, nine are fixed shore-based 
facilities, two

[[Page 20009]]

are mobile carts, one is a mobile trailer mounted unit, and one is a 
mobile pumpout boat. Two facilities provide portable toilet holding 
tank dump stations. The majority of pumpout facilities discharge to 
town sewage systems, the carts and one other facility discharge into 
storage tanks which a licenced sepage hauler services. In addition, the 
majority of marinas provide public restrooms for boaters and other 
clientele.
    The State of Connecticut used three different methods to estimate 
vessel population in the proposed NDA, and used the highest estimate of 
3700 in their calculations to determine the number of pumpout 
facilities needed to adequately serve the boating public. The transient 
vessel population is estimated to be 200 at any point in time during 
the boating season, which is included in the total figure. Of the 
estimated total of 3700 vessels using this area at any given time, 
approximately 1300 are of a size that may have sewage holding tanks and 
need pumpout services. The State has determined that the 13 pumpout 
facilities currently in service in the proposed NDA are sufficient to 
meet the potential demand and prevent the discharge of vessel sewage 
into coastal waters.
    The coastline and coastal waters within the proposed NDA contain a 
variety of rich natural habitats and support a wide diversity of 
species, providing a range of recreational and commercial activities. 
There are 25 public beaches, 11 public boat ramps, and 4 parks or 
wildlife management areas within the proposed NDA. Both recreational 
and commercial shell fishermen use the area for the harvest of hard 
clams, some oysters, and soft shell clams. In addition, fishing is 
commonplace and the species found in the area are smelt, small cod, 
flounder, scup, menhaden, and white perch.
    Comments and reviews regarding this request for action may be filed 
on or before June 1, 2004. 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, One Congress Street, Suite 1100, CWQ, Boston, MA 02114-2023. 
Telephone: (617) 918-1538.

    Dated: April 6, 2004.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, Region 1.

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                Name                        Location              Contact info.        Hours of operation    Mean low water depth           Fee
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Shennecossett Yacht Club             Pine Island Bay         VHF CH 68, 860-445-     June-Sept., 9 a.m.-6   7 feet...............  Members Free $5 for
                                                              7892                    p.m.                                          non-members.
Pine Island Marina                   Pine Island             VHF CH 68, 860-445-     Apr.-Nov., 9 a.m.-5    8 feet...............  Free (portable cart).
                                                              9729                    p.m.
Spicer's Noank Marina                Mystic Harbor West      VHF CH 68, 860-536-     Apr.-Nov., 9 a.m.-5    6 feet...............  Free self service
                                      Cove                    4978                    p.m.                                          portable cart $20
                                                                                                                                    Service by marina
                                                                                                                                    staff with portable
                                                                                                                                    cart free dump
                                                                                                                                    station).
Noank Shipyard                       Mystic Harbor           VHF CH 9, 860-536-9651  Year round, 8 a.m.-    15 feet..............  $5, free for
                                                                                      4:30 p.m.                                     customers.
Noank Village Boatyard               Mystic River, Noank     VHF CH 68, 860-536-     May-Dec., 8:30 a.m.-5  8 feet...............  $5 token for self
                                                              1770                    p.m.                                          service at
                                                                                                                                    stationary $30
                                                                                                                                    mobile service (1
                                                                                                                                    stationary 1
                                                                                                                                    portable).
Mystic Shipyard                      Mystic Harbor           VHF CH 9, 68 860-536-   June-Sept., 8 a.m.-5   10 feet..............  Free.
                                                              6588                    p.m., May-Oct., M-F
                                                                                      8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mystic Seaport Pumpouts              Mystic River            VHF CH 68, 860-572-     July-Aug., 8 a.m.-7    15 feet..............  Free (2 pumpouts).
                                                              0711                    p.m., May, June,
                                                                                      Sept., & Oct., 8
                                                                                      a.m.-4 p.m.
Mystic Shipyard East                 Mystic River            VHF CH 9, 68 860-536-   May-Oct., 8 a.m.-4     3 feet...............  $5, free for
                                                              4882                    p.m.                                          customers.
Brewer Yacht Yard at Mystic          Mystic River            860-536-2293            May-Nov., Sun.-Thur.   11 feet..............  $5, free for
                                                                                      8 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-                          customers.
                                                                                      Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Brower's Cove Marina                 Mystic River            860-536-8864            Year Round 9 a.m.-5    N/A (dump station      Free.
                                                                                      p.m.                   only).
Mystic River Marina                  Mystic River            VHF CH9, 860-536-3123   May-Sept., 8 a.m.-5    9 feet...............  $5.
                                                                                      p.m.
Groton, Noank, Mystic Pumpout boat   Mystic River            VHF CH 68, 860-460-     Memorial Day-Oct.,     N/A (boat)...........  Free.
                                                              7336, 860-448-4084      Sat., Sun. & Mon.,
                                                                                      holidays 10 a.m.-6
                                                                                      p.m.
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[FR Doc. 04-8576 Filed 4-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P