EPA Urges the Public to Weigh In on Proposal to Ban the
Dumping of Sewage from Boats into Cayuga and Seneca Lakes and Seneca River
Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov
(New York, N.Y. – April 17, 2015) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that a “no discharge zone” can be
established for Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake and the Seneca River. The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation petitioned the EPA to prohibit
boats from discharging sewage into these waters by establishing a “no discharge
zone” for the area. The EPA has reviewed the petition and found that there are
adequate facilities around Lakes Cayuga and Seneca for boats to pump out their
sewage, rather than dumping it in the water.
Sewage discharges from boats can contain harmful levels
of pathogens and chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenols and chlorine, which
have a negative impact on water quality, pose a risk to people’s health and
impair marine life. The EPA is encouraging the public to comment on its
proposed approval until May 17, 2015.
The proposed “no discharge zone” for Cayuga and Seneca
Lakes includes Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, the Seneca River, and the connected
navigable tributaries. Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake are water bodies of unique
ecological, economic and public health significance as well as drinking water
sources. Establishing a “no discharge zone” for these lakes would help protect
the water quality and marine life.
This action is part of an EPA/New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation strategy to eliminate the discharge of sewage
from boats into the state’s waterways. New York State water bodies that have
already been established as “no discharge zones” include Lakes Erie, Ontario,
Champlain, and George, the New York State Canal System and the Hudson River,
among others.
EPA’s determination is available in the Federal Register
at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
For more information about “no discharge zones”, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/water/ndz/index.html
To comment on the proposed EPA approval, email, fax or
mail comments to Moses Chang at chang.moses@epa.gov,
Fax: (212) 637-3891. Mailing address: Moses Chang, U.S. EPA Region 2, 290
Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866.