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NOAA seeks discharge ban in Florida sanctuary
Posted on November 20, 2009
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed banning marine sanitation device discharges from vessels in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
If this effort is successful, other similar regulations could be enacted in other marine sanctuaries, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
The NMMA is currently reviewing the proposal and the environmental impact analysis that NOAA is using to draft this regulation.
Anyone with feedback on the proposed rule that would like to be included in NMMA's official comments should contact Cindy Squires at (202) 737-9766 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has been a no discharge zone with the State waters for over 6 years. This notice from NOAA is for only a small portion of the Sanctuary that is in Federal waters. Miami waters are not with in the Sanctuary or even close.
When the no discharge zone was approved by then Govenor Bush we were successful in gaining a two year time frame of education rather than enforcement. During that time frame an education and outreach program was put in place to inform all boaters, both residents and transient, of the rules. In addition, through Clean Vessel Act funding, many additional pump stations were added along with 5 pump-out boats. Currently, in the middle Keys, over 16,000 gallons per month are being collected. The impact of this has been dramatic in our harbors and overall water quality. Electra San and other types of treatment do not remove nutrients and are not allowed.
The entire Keys are mandated by the state of Florida to install a public sewer system for all residences and businesses by 2010. We are in the process of completing this unfunded mandate at the cost of 100's of millions of dollars for our small resident population. The burden of this cost is almost completely funded by the residents, the municipalities and our County Government. Neither the State nor Feds have made major contributions of funding to support our efforts.
First things first. The proposal is a good one provided there are enough pumping stations to handle the huge number of boats in the coverage area and all septic tanks are phased out over a period of five years with no grandfathering and sewage lines are extended to all dwellings that have tolets. In the meantime force any marinas that have "broken" pump out facilities to get them operating in 30 days or face fines of at least $100 a day. Politicians ,fearing a big loss of votes, will balk so publication and distribution to the media, of mothly fecal counts in the keys might be needed to bring a much needed goose from the local tourist. industry.
We regularly read about metropolitan sewage mistakes where several million gallons of untreated sewage goes into the waters of south florida.... and those are the ones that make the news. How many others aren't 'newsworthy' or are not reported??
It's about time that the bureaucrats who are claiming to protect 'us' actually look at the situation and do their homework.
It's also time for them to understand the efficiency of the newer marine waste disposal systems like Lectra-san and Pura-san.
How's this for a concept?.... work to solve the problem, not just make a new rule so you feel 'warm & fuzzy'. Here's the result of a google search for "miami sewage leak". A 2 minute effort on my part. Why can't NOAA do this kind of research?
Sewage leak into river has iwi seeing red
Iwi are upset that they were not officially told about a sewage leak into the Motueka River, which has prompted the Tasman District Council to warn people not to fish in the area. Council engineering services manager Peter Thomson said raw sewage flowed into the river after a pipe ruptured on a property in Lodders Lane two days ago.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Raw sewage leak closes public beaches in Boynton Beach, Ocean Ridge, Gulfstream
Are they going to put diapers on the manatee's too? Sounds all and good with their discharge zones for boats doesn't it but the REAL problem with the water quality in the Keys are septic tanks in the pourous "soil" of the keys that pretty much goes directly into the water. That and the run off of oil from parking lots and debris from "lawn care" being blown into the water. Bottom line -TOO MUCH LAND DEVELOPMENT and it's resulting spoil- NOT from boats!! Especially from boats that HAVE marine sanitation devices!!
Just to put the area they are recommending if passed- you're talking from the tip of Key Biscayne several hundred miles to Fort Jefferson and UP along entire coast to Naples!!! How many pump out stations are even working in Miami? I've found ONE (1) and it's on Arch Creek in N. Miami. The one's at the marina's are always "broken" - "waiting for a part" because the dock workers didn't hire on at marinas to be sewage pumpers. So what does one do with a full holding tank with no pump out facilities? Answer me that Mr. Young College graduate at NOAA who had this bright idea?