Boaters in the Peconic Estuary System have a new opportunity to join the Peconic Estuary Program’s (PEP) Partners for Clean Water. Since July Fourth weekend, bay constables, marine patrols and municipal pump-out boats from all five
East End
towns have been assisting boaters in taking the easy steps to comply with the Peconic Vessel Waste No Discharge Zone (NDZ). Once they have determined that a boat is in compliance with the NDZ, the boater will receive a credit card sized, water-resistant packet containing an important guide to the NDZ, info on municipal pump-outs, and a bright orange NDZ decal to stick on their boat’s hull.
“These packets are great!” exclaimed Ed Michels of East Hampton Marine Patrol. “I love them. Everyone loves them!” Mike Acebo, general manager at Brewer Yacht Yard, adds “This orange decal, like the one we now have proudly displayed on the dock office door at Brewer Yacht Yard, makes it easy to see when a boat is in accordance with all NDZ stipulations.” Brewer-Stirling Harbor Marina is under contract to operate the
Greenport
Village
pump-out boat.
According to Rick Balla, the PEP coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “The Peconic NDZ includes all navigable waters of the Peconic Estuary, west of a line connecting Orient and Montauk Points, including all harbors, bays and tidal creeks. In a NDZ, treated and untreated discharges from marine toilets are prohibited and violations may result in fines up to $1,000.”
Since its designation in 1993 as one of the twenty-eight “Estuaries of National Significance” under the Federal government’s National Estuary Program (NEP), the Peconic Estuary Program has been asking everyone on the East End – boaters, farmers, government officials, business owners and residents and visitors alike - to do their part to ensure that the bays and creeks remain safe and clean. Kevin McDonald, PEP Citizens Advisory Committee chair says, “We worked together with the Association of Marine Industries (AMI), local governments and agencies and various citizens and environmental groups, to make the Peconic Estuary a NDZ. Although boaters’ contribution to the bay’s pollution is minimal in the broad scheme of things, the marine industry has been great partners through the years. Complying with the NDZ is one simple way boaters can help protect and restore the Peconics.”
In a NDZ, treated and untreated discharges from marine toilets are prohibited and sanitation devices (heads) must be secured to prevent discharges. The discharge valve of a Type I or II marine sanitation device must be visibly secured in the closed position so that wastes can not readily be discharged overboard. Compliance can be as simple as closing the seacock (or Y-valve) of your marine toilet and removing its handle; fixing the seacock in a closed position with a padlock or non-releasable wire tie; and locking the door to the space enclosing the toilet or head.
A Type III marine sanitation device, or holding tank, is permitted provided you use the pump out facilities in the Peconics or hail a pump-out boat on VHF-73 (VHF-9 in the
Village
of
Greenport
). If your Type III MSD is equipped with a discharge option or Y-valve, you will need to close and lock each valve leading to an overboard discharge with a padlock or non-releasable wire to prevent direct overboard discharges into the No Discharge Zone.
Compliance to the NDZ will help protect shellfish beds, finfish nurseries and keep the Peconic Estuary waters safe and clean for swimming and recreation. To find out how easy it is to comply, ask your local marine patrol, bay constable or municipal pump-out boat for a NDZ packet.
For more info contact the Peconic Estuary Program at 631-852-2077 or www.peconicestuary.org.
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