UPDATE FOR MARINA OWNERS: Regulatory Changes Regarding Wash
Water
The Regulatory Change
The Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control within the NJDEP has implemented revisions to the Basic Industrial Stormwater General Permit that specifically require marina operators to cease discharges from boat bottom washing operations. A copy of the permit is available below. A Guidance Document has also been developed to aid in compliance with the new rules (see link). Marinas must be in compliance with the new rules, specifically, the requirement to cease the unlawful discharge of boat bottom wash water, by June 2009. There is no increase in the permit fee.
What this means to Marina Owners
It will no longer be an acceptable policy for marina owners
who currently haul and pressure wash boats each fall to allow
this water to drain (filtered or unfiltered) back into the surrounding
waterway. Marinas authorized under this permit must eliminate
the discharge of wastewater to the waters of the State of New
Jersey from boat washing activities by either installing a washwater
reclaim system, capturing and hauling the wastewater for proper
disposal, connecting to sanitary sewer (where applicable and
approved by local authorities), ceasing the activity and/or applying
for and obtaining a separate NJPDES permit. Implementation of
certain stormwater related best management practices will also
be recommended as part of marina specific guidance at each marina
facility. These guidance materials are designed to assist marina
owners and operators and help them comply with these new requirements.
Interagency Coordination for a smooth transition
Links: Vessel Wash Wastewater Treatment Systems
DISCLAIMER: This list is provided for informational purposes only. None of the systems listed are endorsed by the NJDEP, NOAA, or the SeaGrant Program. Any claims made by the manufacturer have not been tested or certified by NJDEP, NOAA, or SeaGrant. The list was compiled by the NJ SeaGrant Program and is not necessarily complete. If you have additional information about the list or have anything to add to it, please contact Mike Danko at mdanko@njmsc.org.
An advisory committee consisting of representatives from the Department, Marine Trades Association of NJ, NJ Marine Sciences Consortium/ NJ Sea Grant, and the marina industry met several times to discuss the changes to the Basic Industrial Stormwater General Permit and how these changes can be implemented at marinas effectively, efficiently, and fairly. Concerns about cost, land use permits, health and other issues were raised and considered.
Through extensive research, the advisory committee has determined that installing a closed loop water recirculating/recycling system will likely prove to be the most cost efficient and best option for most marina facilities. A number of recycling systems are presently being tested at marinas throughout the state to determine the quality of the water before and after the filtering process, efficiency, cost and durability. However, marina owners who are interested in pursuing the option of connecting to a sanitary sewer line should contact their local utilities authority as that may be a viable option as well.
The Department is working with the Marine Trade Association
and marina owners to assure a smooth transition and is aware
that these changes will generate concern among marinas. However,
these changes must be implemented in order to ensure compliance
with existing law and to guarantee protection of New Jersey’s
coastal water quality and associated resources. The Department
is investigating potential grants through the I BOAT NJ program
that will fully or partly fund the required upgrades at marinas
to comply with these new requirements. The Department encourages
marina owners to take advantage of the grant opportunity and
is working with I BOAT NJ to produce a streamlined application
and review process.
Questions regarding these changes can be addressed by calling
Tali Engoltz of the Clean Marina Program at
(609) 633–2201.
New Permit-By-Rule for the Construction and/or Installation of Boat Wash Wastewater systems
On November 14, 2008 the NJDEP adopted amendments to the Coastal Permit Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7 to add a new permit-by-rule for the construction and/or installation of boat wash wastewater systems and associated infrastructure that prevent any discharge of boat wash wastewater to the waters of the State at marinas, boatyards and boat sales facilities. This new permit-by-rule, codified at N.J.A.C. 7:7-7.2(a)11 (Proposal click HERE;
Adoption click HERE), is available to any marina, boatyard or boat sales facility that installs a boat bottom wash wastewater system, including those necessary to comply with the equipment and vehicle washing provisions of the Basic Industrial Stormwater General Permit (5G2) under the NJPDES rules and those that are not subject to this general permit but that wish to voluntarily install such systems.
The new permit-by-rule authorizes the construction of boat wash wastewater systems, including collection systems, reclaim/recycling systems, and connections to existing sanitary sewers. The components of such systems include impervious wash pads, sumps or some other mechanisms to collect the wash wastewater, treatment systems to remove contaminants from the water, sheds to house the treatment system, and tanks to store the treated water for reuse or the wash wastewater for collection. The systems must be located on the upland portion of the site and outside of any wetlands in order to minimize impacts to special areas and the water body.
Under this permit-by-rule, each wash pad must be bermed or pitched to allow the wastewater to flow to a central or main collection bin located beneath the pad and prevent the wastewater from flowing off the pad onto the ground or directly back into surface waters. Each pad must be connected to a reclaim/recycling system, a storage system, or a sanitary sewer. These requirements ensure that the boat wash wastewater system will effectively wash boat bottoms, collect the wash wastewater, and treat or dispose of the wash wastewater so that it is not discharged into the surface or ground water. Further, this permit-by-rule will facilitate compliance with the Stormwater General Permit as applicable, while minimizing affects of these systems on the coastal environment.
|
