[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7964-7965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2141]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8031-8]


Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Casco Bay, Maine; Receipt of 
Petition

    Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the 
State of Maine requesting a determination by 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 Casco Bay area.
    The area of the Bay to be included in the designation includes all 
contiguous waters north and east of 43[deg]33[min]56.04[sec] N-
70[deg]11[min]48.22[sec] W at Cape Elizabeth Light in Cape Elizabeth, 
to a point 43[deg]42[min]17.65[sec] N-69[deg]51[min]17.70[sec] W at 
Bald Point in Phippsburg. The southern boundary is a straight line 
between the points, however it does not include any waters outside of 
the three mile limit. The area also includes the navigable reaches of 
the Fore River, Presumpscot River, Royal River, Cousins River, 
Harraseeket River, and the New Meadows River.
    The coastal towns bordering the proposed No Discharge Area are: 
Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Portland, Long Island, Falmouth, 
Cumberland, Yarmouth, Freeport, Brunswick, Harpswell, West Bath, and 
Phippsburg. There are eleven inland towns which border the six rivers 
that are included in this proposed No Discharge Area designation.
    The State of Maine has certified that there are twenty pumpout 
facilities located within the proposed area and a list of the 
facilities, phone numbers, locations, and hours of operation is 
appended at the end of this petition. There are 11 fixed shore-based 
facilities, seven portable facilities, one pumpout boat, and one dump 
stations. The majority of the pumpout facilities discharge directly to 
town sewer systems or are collected in a holding tank and then properly 
disposed by a licensed waste hauler to an off site facility.
    In addition, there are approximately 19 large marinas, docking 
areas, and boatyards within the proposed No Discharge Area, the 
majority of which have restrooms available for their patrons.
    The State of Maine has provided documentation indicating that the 
total vessel population is estimated to be 4896 in the proposed area. 
Of these, approximately 3476 are identified as recreational, 1420 are 
identified as commercial, and the transient vessel population is 
estimated to be 1288, which is included in the total figure. It is 
estimated that 3897 or approximately 80% of the total vessel population 
may have a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) of some type. The state of 
Maine is within the ratio of pumpouts to boats from the EPA guidance 
(300-600 vessels for every one facility).
    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 22 boat ramps, numerous lighthouses, seven historical forts, 
two state parks, and twenty-two individual harbors. One of the largest 
cities in Maine is located in the proposed area and the tourist traffic 
from day trips, ferry cruises, fishing and whale watching excursion is 
a major contributor to the area economy.
    Casco Bay is part of the National Estuary Program, having been 
designated an ``estuary of national significance'' by EPA in 1990. The 
Maine coastal area is also part of the larger ecosystem of the Gulf of 
Maine, which is the subject of an international ecosystem management 
program involving the United States and Canada.
    The proposed area has a variety of rich natural habitats, and 
supports a wide diversity of species. It has approximately 500 acres of 
rocky shore that supports seaweeds, periwinkles, mussels, barnacles, 
and crabs. There are approximately 150 species of water birds, two 
species of seals, four species of whales, two species of dolphins and 
harbor porpoises. Both recreational and commercial shell fishermen use 
the area for the harvest of soft shell clams, mussels, scallops, and 
surf clams. The flats support commercial harvests of sandworms and 
bloodworms. In addition Casco Bay supports recreational and commercial 
fishing and the species found in the area are pollock, sculpin, skate, 
winter flounder, and smelt.
    Comments and reviews regarding this request for action may be filed 
on or before April 17, 2006. 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, COP, Boston, MA 02114-2023. 
Telephone: (617) 918-1538.

[[Page 7965]]



                                      List of Pumpouts in the Proposed Area
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                                                                                                        Minimum
        Location/waterbody               Name/company       Contact information   Hours of operation     depth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Meadows River, Brunswick......  New Meadows Marina...  207-443-6277, VHF CH  June-Sept., 8am-5pm          4'
                                                            9.                    M-F Weekend by appt.
Merepoint Bay, Brunswick..........  Paul's Marina........  207-729-3067, VHF 9.  June-Sept., Self            10'
                                                                                  Serve 24/7.
Casco Bay, Falmouth...............  Falmouth Public        207-781-7317, VHF 9.  June-Sept., Self            10'
                                     Landing.                                     Serve 24/7.
Casco Bay, Falmouth...............  Handy Boat...........  207-781-5110, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          4'
                                                                                  7 days.
Casco Bay, Freeport...............  Brewers South          207-865-3181, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                     Freeport Marine.                             7 days.
Casco Bay, Freeport...............  Strouts Point Wharf..  207-865-3899, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
Potts Harbor, Harpswell...........  Dolphin Marine         207-833-6000, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                     Services.                                    7 days.
Orrs Harbor, Harpswell............  Great Island Boatyard  207-729-1639, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
Sebasco Harbor, Phippsburg........  Sebasco Harbor Resort  207-389-1161, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          6'
                                                                                  7 days.
Diamond Cove, Portland............  Diamond Cove Marina..  207-766-5850, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          6'
                                                                                  7 days.
Portland Harbor, Portland.........  DiMillos Old Port      207-773-7632, VHF 9.  May-Oct., 8am-8pm 7         10'
                                     Marina.                                      days.
Portland Harbor, Portland.........  Maine Yacht Center...  207-842-9000, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
Portland Harbor, Portland.........  Portland Yacht         207-774-1067, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                     Services.                                    7 days.
Fore River, South Portland........  City of South          207-767-3201, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          6'
                                     Portland.                                    7 days.
Casco Bay, South Portland.........  Friends Of Casco Bay.  207-776-0136, VHF 9.  June-Sept., By apt..        10'
Portland Harbor, South Portland...  South Port Marine....  207-799-8191, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          4'
                                                                                  7 days.
Portland Harbor, South Portland...  Spring Point Marina..  207-767-3213, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
Portland Harbor, South Portland...  Sunset Marina........  207-767-4729, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          6'
                                                                                  7 days.
Portland Harbor, South Portland...  Aspasia Marina.......  207-767-3010, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
Royal River, Yarmouth.............  Yankee Marina........  207-846-4326, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm          6'
                                                                                  7 days.
Royal River, Yarmouth.............  Yarmouth Boat Yard...  207-846-9050, VHF 9.  June-Sept., 8am-8pm         10'
                                                                                  7 days.
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    Dated: February 5, 2006.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, New England--Region 1.
[FR Doc. E6-2141 Filed 2-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P