82 FR 15357 - EPA-Mid-Atlantic Region III; Maryland Marine Sanitation Device Standard-Receipt of Petition

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 58 (March 28, 2017)

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the State of Maryland requesting a determination by the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the Chester River, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties, Maryland. EPA is requesting comments on this petition and whether EPA should designate the Chester River and its tributaries as a No Discharge Zone as provided in the Clean Water Act. The petition is available upon request from EPA (at the email address below) or at http://dnr.maryland.gov/ boating/Documents/FINAL_CRA_NDZ_APPLICATION.pdf.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15357-15358]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06113]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9958-90-Region 3]


EPA-Mid-Atlantic Region III; Maryland Marine Sanitation Device 
Standard--Receipt of Petition

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice--Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a petition has been received from 
the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on behalf 
of the State of Maryland requesting a determination by the Regional 
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic 
Region, that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and 
treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the 
Chester River, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties, Maryland. EPA is 
requesting comments on this petition and whether EPA should designate 
the Chester River and its tributaries as a No Discharge Zone as 
provided in the Clean Water Act. The petition is available upon request 
from EPA (at the email address below) or at http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Documents/FINAL_CRA_NDZ_APPLICATION.pdf.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing to EPA on or before April 
27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Michael D. Hoffmann, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency--Mid-Atlantic Region, 1650 Arch Street, 
Mail Code 3WP10, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029, or emailed to 
[email protected]. Only written comment will be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael D. Hoffmann, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency--Mid-Atlantic Region. Telephone: (215) 
814-2716, Fax number: (215) 814-2301; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that a petition has 
been received from the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural 
Resources on behalf of the State of Maryland requesting a determination 
by the Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mid-Atlantic Region pursuant to Section 312(f)(3) of the Clean Water 
Act, 33 U.S.C. 1322(f)(3), that adequate facilities for the safe and 
sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels is reasonably 
available for the entirety of the Chester River and its tributaries. 
EPA is requesting comments on this petition and whether EPA should 
designate the Chester River as a No Discharge Zone as provided in that 
provision of the Clean Water Act. The petition is available upon 
request from EPA (at the address above) or at http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Documents/FINAL_CRA_NDZ_APPLICATION.pdf.
    The State of Maryland makes this request as part of its application 
for a No Discharge Zone which will prohibit the discharge of sewage 
from vessels into the Chester River and its tributaries. The 
delineation of the proposed No Discharge Zone of the Chester River and 
its tributaries from the Chesapeake Bay will begin at 39[deg]8'54.48'' 
N., 76[deg]16'37.11'' W. and extend down to 39[deg]2'23.56'' N., 
76[deg]18'8.89'' W. From there it will continue east throughout any 
navigable waters including all tributaries and bays. Included within 
this zone are Lankford Bay, Corsica River, Southeast Creek, and many 
smaller tributaries.
    The State of Maryland has certified that there are nineteen 
stationary and four mobile pumpout stations located at 17 marinas or 
docks throughout the Chester River. Sixteen of the nineteen stationary 
units also have a method to empty portable toilets. All of the pump-out 
stations noted were funded with grants administered by the Maryland 
Department of Natural Resources and all comply with local and state 
sanitary permitting requirements. A list of the facilities, phone 
numbers, locations, and hours of operation can be found below.

[[Page 15358]]



                                           List of Facilities With Pumpouts in the Proposed No Discharge Zone
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                                                               Mean low
        Pumpout facility          Operating hours in season  water depth     Phone No.                                Address
                                                                 (ft)
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Bayside Landing Park...........  24-7......................            5    410-778-2600  20927 Bayside Avenue, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Castle Harbor Marina...........  24-7......................            6    410-643-5599  301 Tackle Cir, Chester, MD 21619.
Chestertown Marina.............  9:00-5:00 daily...........           10    410-778-0500  207 S Water St, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Gratitude Marina...............  9:00-5:00 daily...........            7    410-639-7011  5924 Lawton Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Haven Harbor Marina............  8:00-5:00 daily...........            6    410-778-6687  20880 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Kennersley Point Marina........  8:00-5:00 daily...........            3    410-758-2394  223 Marina Ln, Church Hill, MD 21623.
Lankford Bay Marina............  24-7......................            7    410-778-1414  23002 McKinleyville Rd, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Long Cove Marina...............  8:00-5:00 daily...........            6    410-778-6777  22589 Hudson Rd, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Mears Point Marina.............  8:30-7:00 daily...........            6    410-827-8888  428 Kent Narrow Way N, Grasonville, MD 21638.
North Point Marina.............  9:00-5:00 daily...........            6    410-639-2907  5639 Walnut St, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Osprey Point Marina............  24-7......................            6    410-639-2194  20786 Rock Hall Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Piney Narrows Yacht Haven......  8:30-6:30 daily...........            8    410-643-6600  500 Piney Narrows Rd, Chester, MD 21619.
Queenstown Harbor Community      24-7......................            6    301-343-5487  252 Harbor Lane, Queenstown, MD 21658.
 Pier.
Rock Hall Landing Marina.......  9:00-5:00 daily...........            5    410-639-2224  5657 S Hawthorne Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Sailing Emporium...............  8:00-5:00 daily...........            8    410-778-1342  21144 Green Lane, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Spring Cove Marina.............  24-7......................            5    410-639-2110  21035 Spring Cove Rd, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
Swan Creek Marina..............  24-7......................            7    410-639-7813  6043 Lawton Ave, Rock Hall, MD 21661.
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    The State of Maryland has provided documentation indicating that 
the total vessel population is estimated to be between 2,705 and 4,700 
boats in the proposed area. Using the higher of those estimates, 
approximately 3,196 are identified as recreational vessels, 1,151 are 
identified as commercial vessels, and 353 are classified as ``Other.'' 
The estimated vessel population in all of the affected areas is based 
on length: The most conservative estimates provided by the State of 
Maryland suggest that there are no vessels less than 16 feet in length, 
15 vessels between 16 feet and 25 feet in length, 3,034 vessels between 
25 feet and 40 feet in length, and 1,651 vessels greater than 40 feet 
in length. Based on the number and size of vessels and EPA guidance for 
state and local officials, the estimated number of vessels requiring 
pumpout facilities in the Chester River during peak occupancy is 1,207.
    In their application, Maryland has certified that the Chester River 
and its tributaries need greater environmental protection and 
enhancement of the waters. Maryland has classified the Chester River 
and the Chesapeake Bay which it drains into, as impaired for not 
meeting applicable state water quality standards. One hundred percent 
(100%) of the Chester River is considered impaired by either nutrients, 
sediment, bacteria or a combination thereof. The counties of Kent and 
Queen Anne's that surround the Chester River rank as the top two 
Maryland waterfront counties in terms of beach closings by percentage 
of beaches. All beach closings were due to elevated bacteria as 
evidenced by high levels of enterococci.
    The Chester River is an important economic driver for the region, 
providing jobs and revenue through tourism, commercial and recreational 
fishing for fish and shellfish, boating, and more. Many people use the 
Chester River for hunting, cruising, nature observation, sightseeing, 
waterskiing, tubing, racing, and swimming. Based on a study by the Sage 
Policy Group in 2012, cited in the application, the Chester River 
supports $86 million in annual local economic activity, 900 jobs, and 
$26.7 million in annual labor income.

    Dated: March 10, 2017.
Cecil Rodrigues,
Acting Regional Administrator, Mid-Atlantic Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-06113 Filed 3-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P