Dumping sewage overboard banned in North Shore waters

LYNN – Boaters along the upper North Shore can no longer dump sewage overboard.The communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, Amesbury, West Newbury, Merrimac, Groveland, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen and Lawrence on Thursday became part of the state’s No Discharge Area.Those communities join Lynn, Nahant, Swampscott, Revere, Saugus and Salem Sound, which appealed for and received No Discharge Area designation last year.The zone extends from the New Hampshire state line to Cape Cod Bay. Boaters in those waters must pump sewage into a holding tank for later discharge at a pumpout station or offshore beyond the three-mile limit.”This is a major piece of the puzzle for Massachusetts to protect one of the last large areas of coastline from boat sewage,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England Office. “EPA applauds all the communities across the commonwealth and across New England who have recognized that protecting and enhancing the health of our environment is closely linked to preserving vibrant and prosperous communities. Clean coastal water means more tourists visiting our towns and cities and supporting our economy. Clean coastal water on the Upper North Shore means great beach days, bountiful shell fisheries and a resilient economy.”The No Discharge Area covers 60 percent of the state’s waters. Before EPA will endorse a No Discharge Area designation for any area, the applicant must demonstrate that there are enough pumpout facilities where boaters can get their sewage holding tanks pumped out. The area has an estimated 5,555 boats, of which 1,525 may have a “head” or toilet on board. About 25 marinas or boat yards abut the No Discharge area, which has 13 pumpout facilities.