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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.

 

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