MARYLAND PROPOSED NO DISCHARGE ZONE effective June 1, 2010

[ronbo]

Those of you in the Chesapeake Bay or planning to transit through these waters this year, be aware that Maryland is proposing a NDZ for the Chesapeake Bay.

For 30 years it has been illegal to discharge raw sewage in the Bay but starting June 1 all MSD type I and II sanitation devices, aka Lectra/San, etc., will be illegal with fines of $10,000.

MSD type I and II devices are USCG approved and destroy pathogens to levels lower than modern municipal sewage plants.


Maryland Senate Bill 513:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/bills/sb/sb0513f.pdf

Tom Neale wrote a good article on this topic:
Raritan Engineering | 2003 Boat Shows

BoatersEd
http://www.boatersed.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=134844&whichpage=2

http://www.ndztruth.com

 

[salty76]

We in RI. have been doing it for the last 5 years . i think the act is great and all the pump outs are free. Any boat in RI. waters more than 30 days must get a RI. pump out sticker.

 

[ronbo]

Salty,

Unfortunately our politicians and officials don't always have our best interests in mind.
Just last week, in your backyard, 2.5 million gallons of raw sewage was discharged in Mt Hope Bay, Narragansett Bay.


From sailboatowners.com :

"Keep in mind that the area where this occurred is already a NDZ and has been for years. 2.5 million gallons of raw sewage discharged is the eqivalent of 62,000 boats each with a 40 gallon holding tank being discharged all at once. The officials know that sewage is dumped into the nation's waters all the time and they know they can't prevent these events from happening. The notion of banning responsible use of TYPE I & II MSD's under the pretense that this will improve water quality is nothing more than an emotional/political ploy that would never stand up to a scientific justification. http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x5318...Mount-Hope-Bay"



Raw sewage dumping in the Chesapeake has been illegal for 30 years. The proposed NDZ bans treated sewage from onboard sanitation devices from only an estimated 20,000 boats. To put those numbers in perspective consider that the Marine Trades Association of Maryland reports that in Chesapeake Bay last year:

"1,599 reported incidents of sewer overflow resulting in an estimated 393,006,778 gallons of wastewater reported in the MDE, Sewage Overflows database in 2009. Maryland Reported Sewer Overflow Database"



We should encourage the use and improvement of MSD devices not discourage their use with huge fines.

We all want clean waters but does it make sense to empty a holding tank at a pumpout station only to have it return to the bay by way of accident or heavy rains?

 

[salty76]

I agree we do have a problem with over flowing of sewage. And i do think the fines are going to the wrong people . But with everyone that has to have a no dicharge sticker . Makes everyone think twice to dump their head overboard as being scared of whistle blowers .* Ten years ago in the bay people never had holding tanks and it was just gross . The money that is charged for the stickers is going to the state .But they are putting alot of new free pumpout boats and docks out . The people that don't use this service are very lazy and should be fined.

 

[Keith]

ALL of these "no discharge zones" are crazy. Why would they outlaw treatment devices that treat sewage better than the municipal plants? And that's all "no discharge" zones do... ban on board treatment devices. Dumping raw sewage has been illegal for years. They should be called "no treatment" zones.

 

[ronbo]

BoatUS - Government Affairs alert:

March 1, 2010


Member Alert on Maryland No Discharge Zone

Click here for information on the proposed no discharge zone in Maryland.

 

[ronbo]

Sorry...the 'click here' link didn't work.
Here it is in it's entirety...


Maryland News

Proposed No Discharge Zone

March 1, 2010

The BoatUS Government Affairs team would like to make you aware of legislative activity that may affect Maryland boaters. We encourage you to share your personal point of view with your elected representatives. We have included appropriate contact information below.

Here is what is being proposed:

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler has introduced legislation that would establish a "No Discharge Zone" for all Maryland waters. This means there would be no discharge of boat sewage - treated or untreated - from any vessels into Maryland waters. Currently, treated sewage from Type I and II Marine Sanitation Devices (like a LectraSan) can be discharged. It is already illegal in all U.S. waters to discharge untreated sewage from boat toilets (black water).

House Bill 1257 and Senate Bill 513, which are identical, would change Maryland law to prohibit the discharge of treated sewage from Type I and II MSD's in all boats and ships in Maryland.

Please note:

The bills would take effect June 1, 2010 (or after approval from the federal EPA).
If passed, the Dept. of Natural Resources must proceed to authorize routine inspections of sewage equipment (in all boats) and periodic dye flush tests of your boat's head(s).
The bills would create a $10,000 fine per occurrence for a violation.


Speak Up!
Many BoatUS members have indicated they have strong opinions on this topic. We encourage you to:

Call or email your state representatives - especially those who are cosponsors of these bills (see list below).
To contact your Representatives, click here: http://mlis.state.md.us/mgaweb/mail32.aspx

You may also attend and speak at the Senate Committee Hearing on March 16. (This is an opportunity for the legislators to listen to comments and concerns about the bill's merits from their colleagues and from the general public before voting on the bill.)
Hearing Details: Tuesday March 16, 1 pm
2 West Miller Senate Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 http://mlis.state.md.us/2010RS/hearsch/0225_ehe.htm

The time and place of the hearing can change up until the last minute, so check the state website again before driving to Annapolis!

For Full Text of the Bills:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb1257.htm