Puget Sound No Discharge Zone

Transcription

1 Puget Sound No Discharge Zone For Vessel Sewage Fall 2013

2 What is a No Discharge Zone (NDZ)? Designated area where sewage from vessels cannot be discharged States with NDZs Provides states with the ability to regulate discharges Widespread use of NDZs; over 80 established in 26 states

3 Current Law vs NDZ Current Law 3mi from shore can discharge untreated, if toilet on board, must use USCG certified MSD to discharge within 3 mi Authority CWA, USCG enforcement authority NDZ No discharges treated or untreated in NDZ area (sewage only), holding capacity necessary Authority CWA, state petitioned, local enforcement authority

4 3 Approaches to NDZ CWA Water body requires greater protection and has adequate pump-out facilities (f)(3) 2. Protection and enhancement of water body requires establishment of NDZ do not have to show pumpout adequacy (f)(4)(a) 3. Drinking water intake zone (f)(4)(b)

5 No Discharge Zone Project led by Ecology Goal: Evaluate the appropriateness and feasibility of establishing a NDZ in all or part of Puget Sound to protect water quality and public health. Working with State Parks, DOH, recreational vessel stakeholders, commercial vessel stakeholders, People for Puget Sound (former), WA Sea Grant, Herrera, Puget Sound Partnership, WDFW, EPA, etc.

6 Why consider a NDZ in Puget Sound? Proactive Approach: Limit preventable pollution sources Sewage has pollutants that can harm water quality and public health Large number of vessels with potential to discharge sewage in various locations Traditional marine sanitation devices (MSD s) not protective enough Limited Authority

7 Sensitive Resources at Risk Protect human health: swimming beaches and shellfish beds Benefit water quality: prevent pathogens, nutrient loading, and toxic chemicals Fecal coliform, low DO listings Poor flushing, sensitive water bodies, moving outfalls

8 Overall NDZ Process Gather Information Stakeholder Outreach Draft Petition Infrastructure Improvements Final Petition Implementation

9 Evaluation Process Spent the last two years: Gathering data/information Conditions of Puget Sound, vessel #s/locations and practices, MSDs, pumpouts, existing NDZs, implementation research, etc. Conducting Outreach Learning about vessels/sewage management practices Reaching out and meeting with Recreational and commercial vessel organizations, marina operators, ports, other state agencies, environmental groups, the shellfish industry, tribal interests and individual boaters Website Early input requested by more than 300 identified stakeholders Two Advisory Group Meetings

10 Research Findings Water Quality Public Health Shellfish Beds Marine Sanitation Devices Vessels and Pumpouts Implementation

11 Puget Sound Water Quality Unique hydrology Water quality standards 303d listed bodies

12 Vessels Are One of Many Sources

13 Target of 10,800 upgraded acres has not been met yet Shellfish Beds

14 Marine Sanitation Devices MSD never designed to meet our WQ Standards (fecal and some solids criteria only) Type I. (ex. Electro Scan) * Maceration and disinfection * Can perform well for disinfection, but lacks ability to treat organics, solids, toxics and nutrients Type II. * Vessels >65 feet * Typically biological and disinfection; some advanced * Even advanced systems have difficulty limiting ammonia, metals

15 Type II MSD Quality EPA Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report, 2008 Traditional Type II MSDs Ammonia, not listed in this table but showed high concentrations Analyte Fecal coliform (fecal coliform/ 100 ml) Total residual chlorine (μg/l) Biochemical oxygen demand (5-day) (mg/l) Total suspended solids (mg/l) Average Concentration in Traditional Type II MSD Effluent 2,040,000 MPN / 100 ml Performance Standards for Type II MSDs (33 CFR Part 159 Subpart C) <200 <20 1,070 <10 Title XIV Standard for Continuous Discharge in Alaskan waters (33 CFR Part 159 Subpart E) 133 <45 (7 day avg) <30 (30 day avg) 627 <150 <45 (7 day avg) <30 (30 day avg)

16 Summary of Recreational Numbers Estimated number : ~ 47,000 boats over 21 feet (based on registration data) Estimated capacity: ~ 24,000 boats (based on moorage counts) Peak Occupancy Estimate: ~9,400 to 17,500 (based on 40% occupancy during peak season) 700 to 1000 liveaboards. A subset of registered vessels and moorages Vast majority have Type III MSDs An estimated 95% of recreational vessels can comply

17 Where are Moorages Located?

18 Commercial Vessels Ocean-going transits: 2,937 Table 3. Oceangoing Vessel Transits into Puget Sound for a Vessel Type Number of Transits Auto Carriers 188 Bulk Carriers 310 Container Ships 1,336 Cruise Ships 167 General Cargo 169 Oceangoing Tugs 146 Miscellaneous 16 Reefer 5 Roll on Roll Off 133 Tanker 467 Total 2,937 Non-Ocean Going vessels: 678 Table 4. Puget Sound Harbor Vessel Population for a Harbor Craft Vessel Type Number of Vessels Commercial Fishing 347 Ocean Tugboats 68 Harbor Tugboats 60 Excursion 60 Government 52 Ferry 45 Workboat 27 Assist and Escort Tugboats 19 Total 678

19 Commercial Traffic in Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Density (signals/mi2/day) Tug-Barge Sail-Whale Research- Other Passenger Ship Military Vessel Fishing Vessel Ferry Cargo Ship Strait of Juan de Fuca San Juan/ Whatcom Whidbey Basin North Central Puget Sound South Central Puget Sound South Puget Sound

20 How is Waste Handled on Commercial Vessels Currently compliant with at sea discharges, pumpouts or pumper trucks : Cargo ships, tankers, large cruise ships, military vessels, ferries Most comply or can comply : Small cruise ships, charter fishing vessels, most commercial/tribal fishing vessels Challenge to comply: Tugs and barges, NOAA research vessels (2-3), some commercial fishing vessels

21 What do we know about recreational pumpout facilities? Approximately 99 Public pumpout facilities and 13 pumpout boats in Puget Sound More are located in areas of high boat density, generally good coverage throughout the Sound EPA Guidance: 300 to 600 boats per pumpout based on peak occupancy There are (moorage vs registration) vessels per pumpout or 2 to 6 times more pumpouts per vessel than the EPA recommends for a NDZ petition

22 Pumpout Locations and Moorages in Puget Sound

23 Advisory Group Meetings Geography Entire Puget Sound vs segments and other options Majority cited full Sound as most protective, least confusing, ease of implementation; cons cost, operational changes Infrastructure Recreational San Juan Islands, Hood Canal, more mobile pumpouts Commercial tugs need for a couple of stationary pumpouts in key locations, could possibly use mobile pumpouts if capacity Implementation Brainstorm ideas for outreach and enforcement

24 Status Decision - Proceed with Draft Petition Send to EPA for review and out for public comment by the end of 2013 Per CWA 312(f)(3) water body protection and show pumpout availability Entire Puget Sound (inland marine waters and Lake Washington/Lake Union) Allow time for certain commercial vessels to retrofit/complete pumpout infrastructure Continue infrastructure improvements Obtain input from EPA and public

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26 Implementation Outreach/Education key strategy to compliance Enforcement combination of USCG, State and local authority Long-term evaluate success by volume pumped out, shellfish beds opened, boater surveys, continued work on pumpout availability and outreach

27 Outreach/Education Strategy Ideas Vessel registration renewal info Signs at boat launches and marinas Social media Meetings and notifications to commercial vessel groups and associations Websites Clean Marina program provide info/assistance Boater education curriculum A GPS linked mobile app NDZ and pumpout info Community meetings

28 Your ideas on Implementation * * * * * * *

29 Draft Petition In process of developing Will include proposed NDZ boundaries and criteria Certification of need Vessel population and pumpout information Implementation Strategy ideas Summary of evaluation process Puget Sound conditions/wq info, MSD info Etc.

30 Questions? Visit Ecology s NDZ website: oating/nodischargezone.html Or contact: Amy Jankowiak, Water Quality Program amy.jankowiak@ecy.wa.gov