[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