MA Seeks No-Discharge Zone for Cape & Islands

[Soundbounder]

Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. submitted an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate state waters south of Cape Cod and the waters surrounding Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as the South Cape Cod and Islands No Discharge Area (NDA). The designation would prohibit the discharge of any treated or untreated boat sewage in the area, which encompasses 807 square miles.

MA Seeks No-Discharge Zone for Cape & Islands | BoatingLocal.com


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[roverhi]

Just another political hack trying to make a name for themselves at the expense and suffering of the boating community. There is not need to create no discharge zones. Type 1 MSD's treat sewage to a safer health level than the public sewage treatment facilities.

The real problem is malfunctions at the local sewage treatment facilities and non point source (your lawn) run off. The won't do anything about that because it will cost money and might hurt the vote count at the next election.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by roverhi

1 MSD's treat sewage to a safer health level than the public sewage treatment facilities.

Most boats do not have Type I (or Type II) MSDs aboard.

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Most boats do not have Type I (or Type II) MSDs aboard.

Well that answer was like a one hand clap! Discussion about WHY neither Type 1 or 2 is found quickly clarifies the reason.

That reason is so called environmental do-gooders were able to lobby legislators to outlaw such devices in states such as California.........quickly followed by Massachusetts of course which tries hard to replicate or better the environmental crap---pun intended passed by the wackies in California. And no state in environmental good standing could resist helping to keep our local waters clean.

WOOPS!!! Clean that is until a heavy rain occurs and the local communities just DUMP their so called "treated" waste into the ocean!

It is only a matter of a season or two before Massachusetts bans copper bottom paint.

Foggy

[roverhi]

So we turn our boats into float s**t houses because some boats don't have required sanitation devices to use their heads within local waters. Seems like the typical government bureaucrat bull crap we are increasingly saddled with. Doesn't matter whether it does good as long as it has the appearance doing good.

[sailorboy1]

Unless you have a type I or II it doesn't matter. So for 99% of boaters it doesn't matter.

I did get a kick out the the statement in the link that says:
"There are now 29
boat-sewage pumpout facilities in accessible locations throughout
the area to make compliance with
the no-discharge requirements convenient for
boaters."

Of course it is NOT convienient! I find it more "convienient" to just go out of my way on a trip to pump my holding tank than to wait around for the pump out boat to be operating! So of those 'convienient" locations woud be a 20 mile round trip, that isn't a short stop for a sailboat! That's probaby 6+ hours when you factor in the wait.

I'm all for being clean but evreytime thers's a rock the 3 mile limit becomes 20 miles in practice!

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by foggysail

That reason is so called environmental do-gooders were able to lobby legislators to outlaw such devices in states such as California

This statement is completely untrue. Got any other brilliant arguments to back up your anti-environmental rant?

[senormechanico]

Score the posts so far 5 to 2.
Or is it 4 to 1 if you count posters instead of posts.
I'd vote with the majority.

[donradcliffe]

If Massachusetts would just shoot all the whales and catch all the fish their waters would be a lot cleaner. Wait, I forgot about the seagulls.

[Safari38LH]

I think its great that the harbors in the area are no discharge but to make this whole area a no discharge is a bit much. Alot of water moves thru this area.

[bobconnie]

Yea pump into the local sewage system !! then it can go untreated right back into the ocean or bay for fstbot, when the rains come !! great thinking !! and don't tell me it don't happen cus we all know it do !! just my 2 cents !

[Paul L]

Since so few recreational boats have an onboard Type 1 or Type II sanitation system, it doesn't seem that the NDZ would improve in any significant way any waterway. You are restricted from dumping raw sewage inside 3 miles with or without an NDZ. If I read the EPA site right, the NDZ does restict commercial vessels from discharging greywater if they are on the Graet Lakes, which I guess could do some good -- but not in MA.