Portions of Southern Mt. Desert Isle Seeking “No Discharge” Designation to Stem Boat Pollution
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Category: WaterType: News
Source: EPA
Date: Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
(Boston, Massachusetts - April 29, 2009) - E.P.A. is considering a suggestion from the State of Maine to designate coastal waters of significant portions of Mount Desert Island as a "No Discharge Area." If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the marine waters of Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Cranberry Isles and portions of Tremont. Mount Desert Island is well known by thousands of visitors to Acadia Countrywide Park.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) has petitioned E.P.A. to approve the No Discharge designation. E.P.A. has in turn published the request in the Federal Register and will accept public comments on the suggestion for 30 days, ending on May 26.
The areas are adjacent to and bordered by Acadia Countrywide Park, which is the most popular tourist location in the state. The suggested portions of Mount Desert Island represent the 4th area in Maine to seek a "no discharge" designation for coastal waters.
Before E.P.A. will endorse a No Discharge Area designation for any area, the applicant must demonstrate that there are enough "pumpout" facilities where boaters can get their sewage holding tanks pumped out. This particular area has an estimated 992 boats, of which 374 are large enough to have a "head" or toilet on board. There are a total of 6 pumpout facilities in the suggested area.
According to the U.S.F.W.S., the suggested area is "High Value Wildlife Habitat" and includes almost 25 square miles of marine habitat, 252 acres of identified shellfish habitat, 4,000 acres of wetlands and essential habit for bald eagles. This area is a popular destination for boaters due to its natural environmental diversity and proximity to the world renowned Acadia Countrywide Park.
Other areas in New England with No Discharge Areas include: All state marine waters of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire; extensive portions of Massachusetts; Casco Bay and Boothbay Harbor in Maine; and Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York, and Lake Memphremagog in Vermont and Quebec.
More information:
- No Discharge Areas in New England (www.epa.gov/ne/eco/nodiscrg/index.html)
- How to review on suggestion (www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2009/April/Day-24/w9439.htm)
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