Marine Sanitation Device Standard; Casco Bay, Maine; Receipt of Petition
[Federal Register: February 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7964-7965]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe06-66]
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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
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