FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE01-11
May 1,
2001
Contact: Geoff Ryan
(718/595-6600)
City
Announces New Boat Pumpout Facilities For Sewage Waste From Recreational Vessels
Commissioner Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E., of the New York City Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced the opening of three additional
pumpout facilities that will receive sewage waste from recreational vessels
sailing in New York City's harbor waters. The opening of these new boat pumpout
stations makes for a total of six such facilities around the City's coast
line - two on the East River, one on the Hudson, two at Jamaica Bay, and another
on Staten Island in Lower New York Bay.
"These pumpout facilities will encourage boaters to dispose of waste
in a way that is easy, free of charge, and safe for the environment,"
said Commissioner Miele. "The ability to pump out waste at locations
around the City's shores will provide tangible benefits to boaters as well
as New York City's waters."
Two new facilities -- the World's Fair Marina and the Bayside Marina on
the northern coast of Queens - have just been opened for the summer recreational
boating season. The third pumpout station -- The Hudson River Yacht Club in
Paerdegat Basin on Jamaica Bay -- is scheduled to open by July 1, 2001. Pumpout
stations are already operated by DEP at the Coney Island Water Pollution Control
Plant in Shell Bank Creek near the mouth of Jamaica Bay; by the National Park
Service at the Great Kills Marina on the south shore of Staten Island; and
by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation at the 79th Street
Marina.
Free of cost, the stations are open 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day during
boating season, which lasts from April to November. Boats wishing to use the
facilities must dock on a floating pier, open a valve on a remote control
pumping stand, and use a flexible hose to drain the boat's tank. Waste is
suctioned through the hose from the remote station to tanks. The convenience
and cost effectiveness of these modern pumping stations will reduce the illegal
dumping of sewage by marine vessels and provide a valuable service to the
area's boaters.
DEP is working in cooperation with the United States Department of Interior's
Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with the Clean Vessel Act of 1992,
which provides for matching grant funds for the project. The fundamental purpose
of the matching grant program is to increase the availability, public awareness
and public use of pumpout stations.
The operation of these pumpout stations is coupled with DEP's efforts to
continually improve the state of New York's harbor waters. DEP encourages
boaters to take full advantage of the new facilities and enjoy the cleanest
harbor waters since the turn of the century. The results of DEP's 1999 Harbor
Water Quality Survey indicate that the City's advanced wastewater treatment
and pollution prevention programs are producing positive results -- a trend
of improvements in Harbor waters and City quality of life that surely will
continue.
For more information on boat pumpout stations and the results of DEP's
1999 Harbor Water Quality Survey, please call 718-DEP-HELP or visit DEP's
Web site at www.nyc.gov/dep.