U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acting Director Rowan Gould said $12.8 million will be awarded to 31 states under the Clean Vessel Act grant program in 2010.
“Clean Vessel Act funding supports the construction of facilities in communities that depend largely on recreational boating for their economy – and depend on clean water for their health and the health of their environment,” said Gould. “In a time of economic uncertainty, these grants also provide an immediate investment in construction jobs and infrastructure that provide lasting value for recreational boaters, state agencies, and local communities.”
To date, the program – administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – has awarded more than $172 million to states to install thousands of sewage pumpout stations. In addition, many states now rely upon mobile sewage pumpout boats to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient for boaters. A number of states also have begun installing floating restrooms and pumpout stations in high use areas of lakes and coastal waters.
Funding for the CVA program comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes levied on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels.
Some of the major grant program awards made today include the following:
Alabama: $288,566 – The Alabama Department of Environmental Management plans to install ten sewage pumpout stations throughout the State for its inland and coastal waters. In addition, the agency plans to maintain its efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal and its benefits to the aquatic environment.
Arkansas: $236,675 – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plans to purchase several sewage pumpout boats, install sewage pumpout and dump stations, and provide funds for the operation, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing sewage pumpout stations as needed to keep these stations functioning at lakes and rivers across the state, including Lake Norfork, Lake Ouachita, Bull Shoals Lake, Beaver Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, and the Arkansas River.
California: $2,462,451 – The California Department of Boating and Waterways plans to construct, install, upgrade and/or renovate four coastal pumpouts and one coastal dump station facility. They will also purchase one pumpout boat for use along the coast and propose to install nine floating restrooms and two pumpouts or dump stations along inland waterways. The funds will also support operation and maintenance for all coastal and inland pumpout/dump stations and pumpout boats.
Connecticut: $1,490,061 – The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection plans to install two new pumpout or waste reception facilities, upgrade or replace four pumpout facilities, purchase two new pumpout boats, and renovate two others at facilities in Bridgeport, Darien, Groton, Derby, Stonington, Milford, Stamford, Norwalk, and along Candlewood Lake. They will also support the operation and maintenance of pumpout facilities at up to 40 marina facilities along the coast and several others on Candlewood Lake, and provide education for boaters and marine facility operators regarding the importance of proper sewage disposal.
Florida: $1,917,042 – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection plans to install 51 pumpout facilities for inland and coastal waters, provide operation and maintenance of existing pumpouts, and provide education for boaters and marine facility operators regarding the importance of proper sewage disposal.
Georgia: $71,388 – The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will purchase one sewage pumpout boat for use at Port Royale Marina on Lake Lanier.
Indiana: $189,345 – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management plans to increase the number of pumpout stations at a number of marinas and increase awareness of the Clean Vessel Act. The Department will also encourage marinas to increase public awareness about the importance of boaters adhering to acceptable sewage disposal.
Maine: $334,619 – The Maine Department of Environmental Protection plans to continue operation and maintenance support of existing pumpout systems and to install approximately 10 new or improved pumpout systems along the coast of Maine, specifically in the towns of York, Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Harpswell, Saint George, Brooksville, Brooklin, and Deer Isle.
Maryland: $745,000 – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources plans to install 10 new pumpouts facilities, renovate 22 pumpout facilities, provide operation and maintenance funding for existing pumpout facilities, educate boaters and marina operators about the importance of proper sewage disposal. The Department will also undertake a statewide pumpout inspection program where staff will be visiting every pumpout in the State, conducting operational testing, and updating database information to ensure that they are providing accurate pumpout information. Projects will be located throughout the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays.
Massachusetts: $1,029,458 – The Division of Marine Fisheries plans to install or renovate two sewage pumpout facilities, purchase two sewage pumpout boats, and provide operation and maintenance funding for existing sewage pumpout boats and facilities along the Merrimack River and in the cities of Rockport, Marblehead, Marshfield, and Tisbury. The agency will also continue its efforts to educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.
Missouri: $48,000 – The Missouri Department of Conservation plans to provide pumpout facilities at up to three marinas. The facilities will provide services on Missouri's large lakes or major rivers. All pumpout facilities will be located at privately owned marinas or state park marinas open to the general public.
Nevada: $ 39,242 – The State of Nevada plans to repair and upgrade existing sewage pumpout and waste reception facilities in the Hemenway Harbor area of Lake Mead.
New York: $715,645 – The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation plans to install 16 sewage pumpout facilities, renovate or upgrade 24 pumpout or waste reception facilities, and support operation and maintenance of existing facilities to ensure availability for recreational boaters along New York's inland and coastal waters.
North Carolina: $75,879 – The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources plans to install two new sewage pumpout facilities and renovate five sewage pumpout facilities throughout the state's inland waters and to continue its efforts to educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.
Oregon: $198,597 – The Oregon State Marine Board plans to provide maintenance assistance funds to assist with the operation and maintenance costs at 40 coastal and 31 inland publicly owned facilities statewide, including 34 pumpout stations, 39 dump stations, and 19 floating restrooms. They will educate boaters, including information on the location and necessity of using pumpouts, dump stations, and floating restrooms and will work in conjunction with the marine dealerships in providing new boaters information on proper vessel waste disposal.
South Carolina: $278,232 – The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources plans to install or renovate sewage pumpout facilities and floating restrooms throughout the state's coastal and inland waters.
Tennessee: $1,106,369 – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency plans to install 27 sewage pumpout facilities and to renovate four sewage pumpout facilities throughout the state. The agency will also continue its efforts to educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal and its benefits to aquatic environments.
Utah: $3,500 – The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will fund administrative costs associated with managing the Clean Vessel Act grants in the state.
Virginia: $917,139 – The Virginia Department of Health plans to install approximately 33 sewage pumpout facilities along the state's inland and coastal waterways, support operation and maintenance of existing pumpout facilities, continue the sewage pumpout inspection program, and educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.
Washington: $559,885 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Department plans to install or replace new sewage pumpout and dump station facilities at 19 marinas and to provide operation and maintenance funding for 46 coastal marinas and 25 inland marinas throughout the state. They are also planning a campaign to increase the visibility and impact of the Pump-out Logo among boaters.
Wisconsin: $105,000 – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will provide financial assistance awards for the construction or replacement of sanitary pumpout and waste reception facilities along costal waters of Wisconsin. Wisconsin will continue educational efforts to improve pumpout and waste reception facility use by improving communications with marina operators.
