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 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 area covered under this petition, which is:

The area also includes the navigable reaches of the Hammonasset River, Menunketesuck River, Niantic River and the Thames River that drain into Long Island Sound, and the Connecticut River within State boundaries.

The coastal towns bordering the proposed No Discharge Area are: Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford, and New London. There are 26 inland towns which border the five rivers that are included in this proposed No Discharge Area designation.

The State of Connecticut has certified that there are 36 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 29 fixed shore-based facilities, four portable facilities, three pumpout boats, and ten dump stations. Three of the fixed shore facilities offer additional portable facilities. The majority of the pumpout facilities' wastes are collected in a holding tank and then properly disposed, by a licensed waste hauler to an off site facility. In Groton, Norwich, New London, Waterford, and East Lyme, pumpout facilities discharge directly to the town sewer systems.

In addition, there are approximately 107 marinas, docking areas, and boatyards within the proposed No Discharge Area, and the majority of these marine facilities have restrooms available for their patrons.

The State of Connecticut has provided documentation indicating that the total vessel population is estimated to be 7500 in the proposed area. Of these, approximately 7200 are identified as recreational, 300 are identified as commercial, and the transient vessel population is estimated to be 430, which is included in the total figure. It is estimated that 4,000 or 53% of the total vessel population may have a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) of some type. These total numbers may be overestimated and conservative by the State of Connecticut, which would give the boating public a larger ratio of pumpouts to boats (300-600 vessels for every one facility.)

There are 36 wildlife management areas, two state parks, approximately 33 public beaches, and 19 boat ramps 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 include hickory shad, striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, scup, weakfish and blackfish. The proposed area has a variety of rich natural habitats and supports a wide diversity of species. The federally listed species include the bald eagle, shortnose sturgeon, piping plover, and the puritan tiger beetle as well as dozens of state-rare and endangered species.

Comments and reviews regarding this request for action may be filed on or before October 31, 2005. 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.