(New York, N.Y.) The U.S
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation today announced that a 760 square-mile
area of Long Island Sound is now a “no discharge zone,”
which means that boats are completely banned from discharging
sewage into the water. EPA reviewed DEC’s proposal to
establish a no discharge zone for New York areas of the Long Island
Sound and determined that there are adequate facilities in the
Sound for boats to pump out their sewage. Boaters must now dispose
of their sewage at these specially-designated pump-out stations.
This action is part of a joint EPA and New York State strategy to
eliminate the discharge of sewage from boats into the state’s
waterways. Discharges of sewage from boats can contain harmful
levels of pathogens and chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenols and
chlorine, which have a negative impact on water quality, pose a
risk to people’s health and impair marine life. EPA reviewed
numerous public comments on its tentative determination for the
establishment of a no discharge zone, which was proposed in April
2011.
“Clean water is one of New York’s
most valuable assets, and pumping sewage from boats into local
waters is a practice that is both harmful and completely
unnecessary,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck.
“Establishing a no discharge zone for the New York portions
of Long Island Sound is an important step to further protect water
quality and vital aquatic habitat in the Sound.”
“This addition to the list of ‘no
discharge zones’ offers enhanced protections for the New York
portions of Long Island Sound and closes a loop-hole exposed by
boaters from neighboring states who have restrictions in
place,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “We will
continue to work collaboratively with EPA and other partners to
protect our natural resources that are vital for our health,
economy and recreation.”
To read EPA’s final determination or for
more information about no discharge zones, go to http://www.epa.gov/region02/water/ndz/index.html.
The designation of a no discharge zone for New
York waters of the Sound will create one comprehensive policy for
discharges to the Sound. Connecticut, which has jurisdiction for
half of Long Island Sound, had previously designated its portion of
the waters as a no discharge zone. Large areas of New York’s
waters remained unprotected from boat discharges. Boaters could
simply cross into New York waters to discharge sewage.
Today’s designation puts a ban on this practice.
The no discharge zone for the Long Island Sound
will include the open waters, harbors, bays and navigable
tributaries of the Sound and a portion of the East River from the
Hell Gate Bridge in the west to the northern bounds of Block Island
Sound in the east. The waters of Mamaroneck Harbor,
Huntington-Northport Bay Complex, Port Jefferson Complex, Hempstead
Harbor and Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex have been
previously designated as no discharge zones.
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