12-09-2004, 11:16 AM
[font "Times New Roman"]DEP Initiating Process to Ban Sewage Discharge From Boats to Long Island Sound[/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"]Meeting to be Held in Madison on Proposed No Discharge Area from Groton to Guilford[/font][/center]
[font "Times New Roman"]In an effort to preserve the quality of coastal waters in Long Island Sound, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is taking steps that would lead to a ban of sewage discharge from boats into coastal waters.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font][font "Times New Roman"]The DEP plans to ask the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve designation of the waters from Hoadley Point in Guilford to Eastern Point in Groton, including the Connecticut River from Massachusetts border to Old Saybrook and the Thames River from Norwich to New London as a No Discharge Area. The EPA has already approved Connecticut’s designation of a No Discharge Area in Connecticut coastal waters from the Rhode Island Border to Eastern Point in Groton as a No Discharge Area. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]In an effort to increase public awareness and gather input on the proposed designation, the DEP has held two open house sessions already in November with another scheduled next week in Madison. At this session, the public will be able to view maps of the affected areas, examine environmental and public health benefits, and inquire about compliance and enforcement issues associated with the No Discharge Area designation. The public is encouraged to drop in at any time as there is no formal presentation. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font][font "Times New Roman"]Monday, November 29 – 2 to 4 p.m.
[/font][font "Times New Roman"]Madison – The Depot Senior Center, 9 Old Route 79[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Eliminating the release of sewage from boats, both treated and untreated, will result in reductions of man-made nutrient loading and exposure to bacterial pathogens in swimming areas, shellfish beds and other environmentally sensitive aquatic habitats. At present, the discharge from boats of untreated sewage is[/font] [font "Times New Roman"]prohibited, however treated sewage from Type I and Type II Marine Sanitation Devices may be legally discharged in coastal waters not currently designated as a No Discharge Area. If a No Discharge Area is established, the discharge from boats of treated as well as untreated sewage will be prohibited with the designated area. Instead, boaters will be required to use pumpout facilities or pumpout boats that serve the area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Establishing a No Discharge Area is supported by the goals of the DEP’s Long Island Sound Study Plan to reduce the entry of man-made pathogens and nutrients into Connecticut waterways. The designation will help to eliminate confusion about what may be discharged and to reduce the accidental discharge of untreated or poorly treated waste from poorly maintained or non-functional sanitation systems.[/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/whatshap/press/pressrel.htm"]Press Releases[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/news.htm"]News[/url][/font][/center][font "Times New Roman"] [font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/index.htm"]Home[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/aboutdep/contact/contact.htm"]Contact Us[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/search2.htm"]Search[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/survey/survey.htm"]Feedback[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/legal.htm"]Website Legal Info[/url][/size][/font][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]In an effort to preserve the quality of coastal waters in Long Island Sound, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is taking steps that would lead to a ban of sewage discharge from boats into coastal waters.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font][font "Times New Roman"]The DEP plans to ask the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve designation of the waters from Hoadley Point in Guilford to Eastern Point in Groton, including the Connecticut River from Massachusetts border to Old Saybrook and the Thames River from Norwich to New London as a No Discharge Area. The EPA has already approved Connecticut’s designation of a No Discharge Area in Connecticut coastal waters from the Rhode Island Border to Eastern Point in Groton as a No Discharge Area. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]In an effort to increase public awareness and gather input on the proposed designation, the DEP has held two open house sessions already in November with another scheduled next week in Madison. At this session, the public will be able to view maps of the affected areas, examine environmental and public health benefits, and inquire about compliance and enforcement issues associated with the No Discharge Area designation. The public is encouraged to drop in at any time as there is no formal presentation. [/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][/font][font "Times New Roman"]Monday, November 29 – 2 to 4 p.m.
[/font][font "Times New Roman"]Madison – The Depot Senior Center, 9 Old Route 79[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Eliminating the release of sewage from boats, both treated and untreated, will result in reductions of man-made nutrient loading and exposure to bacterial pathogens in swimming areas, shellfish beds and other environmentally sensitive aquatic habitats. At present, the discharge from boats of untreated sewage is[/font] [font "Times New Roman"]prohibited, however treated sewage from Type I and Type II Marine Sanitation Devices may be legally discharged in coastal waters not currently designated as a No Discharge Area. If a No Discharge Area is established, the discharge from boats of treated as well as untreated sewage will be prohibited with the designated area. Instead, boaters will be required to use pumpout facilities or pumpout boats that serve the area.[/font]
[font "Times New Roman"]Establishing a No Discharge Area is supported by the goals of the DEP’s Long Island Sound Study Plan to reduce the entry of man-made pathogens and nutrients into Connecticut waterways. The designation will help to eliminate confusion about what may be discharged and to reduce the accidental discharge of untreated or poorly treated waste from poorly maintained or non-functional sanitation systems.[/font] [center][font "Times New Roman"][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/whatshap/press/pressrel.htm"]Press Releases[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/news.htm"]News[/url][/font][/center][font "Times New Roman"] [font "Arial"][size 2][url "http://dep.state.ct.us/index.htm"]Home[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/aboutdep/contact/contact.htm"]Contact Us[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/search2.htm"]Search[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/survey/survey.htm"]Feedback[/url] | [url "http://dep.state.ct.us/legal.htm"]Website Legal Info[/url][/size][/font][/font]
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