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State Seeks To Protect Waterways From Sewage Dumping

Story Published: Oct 17, 2012 at 11:17 AM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 17, 2012 at 11:17 AM EDT

New York environmental regulators are asking federal permission to declare the state's portions of Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River off limits to vessels dumping their sewage.
 
The Department of Environmental Conservation said Tuesday it wants the "Vessel Waste No Discharge Zones" so boaters and shippers won't be allowed to empty their waste into open waters.
 
Boaters would have to use pump-out stations instead.
 
The DEC says most of the state's waterways have been made no discharge zones since 1976 in a push to improve water quality.
 
The newest designation is subject to approval by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which will consider if there are enough pump-out stations available and take public comment.

Approval would extend protection to all of New York's Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River shoreline.

Lake Ontario was designated a no discharge zone in 2011.
 
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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