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EPA Approves NJ's Plan to Stop Boats from Discharging Sewage into Shrewsbury River

Release Date: 05/11/2000
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(#00084) New York, New York -- In a move that will improve water quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today approved the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) plan to prohibit boats from discharging treated or untreated sewage into the Shrewsbury River in Monmouth County, New Jersey. EPA and NJDEP have determined that there are a sufficient number of pump-out facilities located in the area to receive the sewage from vessels. Sewage discharges from boats have been identified as a source of contamination affecting near shore water quality. EPA and NJDEP have already banned the discharge of treated sewage into the Mannasquan, Navesink and Shark Rivers in New Jersey. "I am pleased to approve this designation of the Shrewsbury as a 'No Discharge Area' before the official start of beach season," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Region 2 Administrator. "The Shrewsbury is located near some of New Jersey's most popular beaches, so the improvements in water quality that will result from no more sewage discharges from boats will be enjoyed this summer by those who flock to the Jersey Shore." "I am delighted that the Shrewsbury is becoming the fourth river in Monmouth County to be established as a No Discharge Area and we look forward to similar successes throughout the New Jersey Coast.  Through cooperative funding efforts, we have increased the number of pumpout facilities statewide to more than 120, resulting in cleaner water in our coastal waterways," said NJDEP Commissioner Bob Shinn.   NJDEP petitioned EPA to establish this "No Discharge Area" at the end of last July. Under national marine sanitation standards, vessels operating in the Shrewsbury River were prohibited from discharging untreated sewage, but were allowed to discharge treated sewage from approved marine sanitation devices.  The "No Discharge Area" designation means that both treated and untreated vessel sewage are now prohibited.