(a) Eligible grant activities—coastal States:
(1) Eligible activities include identification in the coastal zone of all
operational pumpout and dump stations, and surveys of recreational vessels in
coastal waters with holding tanks or portable toilets, and the areas where those
vessels congregate. Also eligible are costs of developing a list, including
chart coordinates, of all operational pumpout and dump stations in the coastal
zone of the State, for submission to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
(2) Plans for construction and renovation of pumpout and dump stations in the
coastal zone of the State necessary to ensure that these stations are adequate
and reasonably available to meet the needs of recreational vessels using the
coastal waters of the State. Completed Stated-funded plans may be submitted
after the technical guidelines appear in the Federal Register.
(b) Eligible grant activities—all States:
(1) Eligible grant activities include education/information program to
educate/inform recreational boaters about the environmental pollution problems
resulting from sewage discharges from vessels and to inform them of the location
of pumpout and dump stations.
(2) Eligible grant activities include the construction, renovation, operation
and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations, including floating restrooms in
the water, not connected to land or structures connected to the land, used
solely by boaters. Eligible grant activities also include any activity necessary
to hold and transport sewage to sewage treatment plants, such as holding tanks,
piping, haulage costs, and any activity necessary to get sewage treatment plants
to accept sewage, such as installing bleed-in facilities.
(c) Ineligible activities:
(1) Activities that do not provide public benefits.
(2) Enforcement activities.
(3) Construction/renovation of upland restroom facilities.
(4) Construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of on-site sewage
treatment plants, such as package treatment plants and septic systems, and of
municipal sewage treatment plants for primary and secondary treatment.
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Created by
Steve Leggans on Mar 18, 2014
2 minute read
14 Comments
Anonymous
Apr 09, 2014Donna Morrow, MD Clean Marina and CVA Programs:
Eligible Grant Activities, All States I
Proposed Addition:
3) Eligible activities include implemenation of a Clean Marina Program and related boater education activities aimed at reducing pollution from vessels and marinas. Also eligible as part of Clean Marina Program implementation is the purchase and installation of equipment at marinas/boatyards serving the general boating public, to reduce pollution from the maintenance of recreational vessels.
The issue is that routine vessel maintenance and operation contribute several sources of pollution besides sewage. Since 1998 approximately 26 states or territories have developed Clean Marina Programs that are comprehensive in their efforts to reduce pollution from recreational boaters and marinas/boatyards. CVA funds could go much further than simply pumpouts by funding equipment for boaters and marinas to prevent pollution. Examples include: fuel spill response kits, bilge socks to absorb oil, systems to collect/treat/recycle water used to wash boat bottoms, biodegradeable cleaners, education efforts, and Clean Marina program implementation. I encourage USFWS and voting members to consider expanding the authorized use of Clean Vessel Act funds.
Anonymous
Apr 17, 2014Janine
"including floating restrooms in the water, not connected to land or structures connected to the land, used solely by boaters" This is the type of information that should be in the definitions so people don't have to search throughout the rule to find what it meant by floating restroom.
However, I think that floating restrooms should be allowed to be connected to land when the area is only accessible by boat. No road or pedestrian access. In other words island marine parks. It is more cost efficient to have a floating restroom connected to the transient dock to serve recreational boaters. It doesn't make sense to construct a composting toilet on the island especially when the islands are often partially submerged during the winter which prevents the installation of upland sanitation. In addition, it is not reasonable to expect a boater to travel back and forth from the transient to a floating restroom that is anchored a few feet away in order to comply with the "no landside connection". Instead they are creating a toilet paper forest which defeats the intent of the CVA Program.
If the definition to recreational boater is expanded to include paddlers then an eligible activity should also include upland restrooms along a watertrail. In Oregon we have many rivers that are designed watertrails that have established camp sites that need sanitation facilities such as composting restrooms. Many of these areas have no road access and are maintained by rangers who float the river. Because of this vault toilets, dump stations or holding tanks can not be used to capture the waste since there is no way for it to be hauled offsite and disposed of properly which is why composting toilets are necessary. Expanding the definition to serve paddlers would also allow dump stations to be placed at some take out points to capture the "pack out" waste.
I would support the ABA proposal that a maximum of 10% of the CVA award could be spent on Clean Marina activities. I do not think that it would be prudent to allow that activity without some cap on the amount of expense. It could easily change the program from sewage to other activities.
Anonymous
Apr 17, 2014The Angling & Boating Alliance is an ad hoc coalition of national recreational boating, angling, outdoor recreation interests, conservation groups, and state boating safety and natural resources agencies committed to the sustainable future of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Over the past year, ABA has put together a coordinated position statement on the Trust Fund. Included in that position is that a certain proportion, not to exceed 25%, of state allocated CVA funds be made available for capital improvements and infrastructure projects to support facilities efforts to meet state permit requirements for minimizing the introduction of pollutants to our waterways. Pressure wash treatment and containment systems at marinas and other water access areas are examples.
CVA is meant to fund infrastructure to clean water, particularly sewage, but most marinas, and even boat ramps, are now faced with how to minimize or eliminate the wastewater that comes from washing boat bottoms. Many states are now requiring treatment systems that can cost upwards of $15,000 which can be cost-prohibitive to some sites, or at the very least a large expense. Allowing CVA funds to be used to help offset some of this cost will help towards the goal of minimizing boating-related pollutants from entering our waterways and should be considered as a change to the current program.
Anonymous
Apr 22, 2014Pam Parker, Maine DEP
I would like to second the comment regarding a portion of the fund being available to fund pollution control infrastructure to deal with toxics, particularly antifouling paint contaminated wash water. Public boat ramps are often the site where folks power wash off their boats and the copper and pesticide laden wash water runs right back into the recieving water at levels that 12000X the chronic ambient water quality criteria for copper in estuarine and marine waters. I would argue this level of toxics discharge has the potential to impact sport fish much more than sewage. Public facilities to collect this wash water would be a huge help in reducing these types of discharges.
Anonymous
Apr 22, 2014Teresa Jarrett (Nevada Dept of Wildlife)
With new technology in marine sewage monitoring units (e.g. Marine Synch) that to provide the volume of sewage that is pumped, length of time the pumpout individually are down, and alert of any leakage that is occurring in the unit. The language both in this section, and in the definitions should be included and are allowed for funding. This will allow both states and Federal government to obtain better information for tracking use.
Anonymous
Apr 22, 2014Teresa Jarrett (NDOW)
I agree with Janine on allowing for Landside facilities in areas that are not logistically reasonable to access for sewage pumping and self-composting vault toilets are the only way to provide restroom access and is generated by boaters and should also be allowed for funding.
We would also like to see this program expand into addressing funding for a Clean Marina program and identify that not more than 15% of the total funds collected be allowed toward this program (capped).
The program also need to include removing oily bilge, which is just as important as sewage. It is generated by a boat and needs to be addressed and allowed as a eligible activity.
Anonymous
Apr 23, 2014I would like to see the requirement for floating restrooms not being attached to shore or to any structure that is attached to shore be modified to allow them to be connected to floats. Part of the funding for the program comes from taxes on fishing gear and equipment but not everyone who fishes does so from a boat which means they are being taxed but not benefitting from the service as the guideline is currently written. Floating restrooms attached to floats in marinas and at boat launches still serve the boating community.
Al Wolslegel
Washington State Parks
Anonymous
Apr 23, 2014Al Wolslegel (WA)
I agree with Janine's comments regarding floating restrooms, though I would like to see them be able to be attached to floats and docks. Many people fish from these structures who do not have boats but still pay for the program through the purchase of fishing equipment. Floating restrooms attached to floats and docks would still serve boaters.
On shore facilities in areas only accessible by boats makes good sense.
Anonymous
Apr 23, 2014Teresa (NDOW)
After talking to others within the boating industry, and marinas, I would like to change my comment on the Clean Marina Program funding and reflect the same 25% or more as was previously recommended by the ABA. The reasoning is CVA program needs to be more current with the issues regarding pollution both now and in the future, and we need to be able to fund and support this as much as funding pumpouts–perhaps even more. Both sewage and boating activities that create water pollution should be funded and supported–as both cause issues in fisheries, water quality. The original CVA program really need to support recreational boater caused pollution that affect water quality, that includes sewage, bilge, boat washing of hull.
Anonymous
Apr 25, 2014Julie Morin - WSFR Region 3 - Floating Restrooms - Connected to land to solely be used by boaters. Site is to ensure it is only used by boaters whether it is from their boat or from the dock.
Anonymous
Apr 29, 2014I agree with Julie that if the restroom is attached, and dedicated to boater use, then it meets the intent of the program to keep boater sewage out of the water.
Anonymous
Apr 29, 2014Al Ortiz, USFWS, R5
As I said before, eligibility activities should be the same on inland as on coastal areas, including surveys and plans. Ineligible Activities should be a separate section and not under Eligible Activities.
Anonymous
Apr 30, 2014Lynne V, NY - I agree with Janine as well. (a)(1) Add boat wash stations; Lake George, New York now mandates inspections and failure to pass requires a boat to be washed at a washing station. Include/mention marine monitoring devices in the regs as this is a reimbursable expense which provides reporting on gallons pumped, etc.
Anonymous
Apr 30, 2014David Kennedy, BoatU.S.
Consistent with our support for the position taken by the Angling and Boating Alliance, we agree with allocating up to 25% of a state’s CVA funding for Clean Marina projects for minimizing the introduction of pollutants into waterways.
The program should remain focused on projects that serve the boats that provide its funding through fuel taxes. Projects such as vessel pumpout facilities are key components of recreational boating’s commitment to clean waters. It should also be recognized that anglers receive significant benefits from other portions of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund from which CVA receives its funding.