• EPA's determination
• EPA's role
• Public comments
• Related information
• Documents

EPA's determination

The EPA has issued its final affirmative determination that adequate sewage pump-out facilities are available for recreational and commercial vessels to support the Washington Department of Ecology’s proposed No-Discharge Zone for Puget Sound.

This determination does not itself constitute the designation of a no-discharge zone. Rather, the Department of Ecology may now in its discretion finalize the proposed designation in accordance with State law.

See Documents below to read EPA's full determination.

Summary of Washington State's proposal

The Washington Department of Ecology proposed to establish a No-Discharge Zone for Puget Sound which would prohibit the discharge of vessel sewage - both treated and untreated - into Puget Sound waters.

Ecology’s petition concluded that there is sufficient need for establishing a no-discharge zone to protect water quality and the related ecological, economic, and recreational benefits provided by Puget Sound.

EPA's role

Under Section 312 of the Clean Water Act, the EPA’s role for this particular type of no-discharge zone designation (commonly known as a "312(f)(3) NDZ") is to determine whether adequate pump-out facilities for recreational and commercial vessels are reasonably available. EPA’s final determination was based on information that the Department of Ecology included in its petition package and a supplemental submission.

EPA’s final determination also considered over 40,000 comments received from individuals, environmental organizations, vessel associations, boating and yacht clubs, industry representatives, port authorities, federal, county, local and tribal governmental entities, and other interested groups.

Public comments

EPA provided a 45-day comment period on the availability of pump-out facilities. Comments were due December 23, 2016 (extended from December 7 in response to stakeholder requests).

Visit regulations.gov to view comments received (public docket).

See Documents below to read EPA's responses to public comments received.

Related information

• Ecology's proposed No Discharge Zone for Puget Sound vessel sewage Exit
• Federal Register Notice of EPA's Final Determination - February 21, 2017
• Learn more about EPA's vessel sewage NDZ program

Documents

• Final Affirmative Determination - Washington State Dept. of Ecology Prohibition of Discharges of Vessel Sewage (PDF)(10 pp, 2 MB, February 13, 2017)
  [FRL-9959-09-Region 10]
• Response to Public Comments on Puget Sound No-Discharge Zone (PDF)(21 pp, 2 MB, January 19, 2017)