Puget Sound officially a No Discharge Zone

Puget Sound is a special place that provides natural and cultural resources and a place many people call home. The Sound is also home to thousands of species of plants and animals. The waters and beaches of Puget Sound are used for recreation. The area is also a place of commerce, as vessels conduct business around the clock, and shellfish are grown and harvested.

Because of it’s unique characteristics, the waters of Puget Sound don’t mix with the open ocean as much as other areas. When pollution enters the Sound, it often takes longer to move out or dilute. One burdensome source of pollution is sewage released from boats. Vessel sewage can contain bacteria and viruses that are harmful to people and the environment. These contaminants a harmful to water quality, beaches and shellfish beds. Eating shellfish that have been exposed to pollution can make people sick. The presence of one type of bacteria, fecal coliform, has closed shellfish beds throughout Puget Sound.

Creating a No Discharge Zone would protect shellfish beds, swimming beaches, and other areas that are especially vulnerable. Establishing an NDZ is a near term action on the Puget Sound Partnership's Action Agenda and is highlighted in the Washington Shellfish Initiative.  We researched and prepared the NDZ petition with a grant from the Washington Department of Health, funded by EPA’s National Estuary Program.

Protecting the Sound

Director Maia Bellon signing the No Discharge Zone
rule April 9, 2018

The Department of Ecology began steps to make Puget Sound a no discharge zone more than five years ago. To put the no discharge zone in place, we provided a draft proposal to the EPA and public comment. The draft drew more than 26,000 comments, of which more than 25,000 were in support of the NDZ. As a result of the comments, we further evaluated the economic effects of an NDZ. We also conducted computer modeling to learn how pollution could affect the Sound’s health. The models simulated release of vessels discharging sewage in six locations in Puget Sound and Salish Sea. We learned that in all cases, results showed that esturaries and the tides connect sensitive areas including shellfish beds.

With Ecology’s final proposal in 2016, EPA received more than 40,000 comments on the proposed Puget Sound NDZ. EPA approved the proposal in February 2017. On April 9, 2018 Ecology Director Maia Bellon signed the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone rule. The rule becomes effective May 10, 2018. There are 90 no discharge zones across 26 states. This zone is the first in Washington.

Under the historic new rule, vessels are prohibited from releasing any sewage (blackwater), treated or untreated, within Puget Sound. In addition to the discharge ban, the rule also establishes the boundaries of the NDZ, how to close marine sanitation devices, and enforcement authority

This is a historic day for the protection and restoration of Puget Sound. I have signed into law the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone. Vessels are no longer allowed to discharge their sewage into our waters.https://t.co/yITLrv3CLd pic.twitter.com/1qIkndFsfY

— Director Maia Bellon (@maiabellon) April 10, 2018

“Making Puget Sound a no-discharge zone for vessel sewage connects a missing piece in our strategy to clean up and restore the Sound,” said Heather Bartlett, the water quality program manager at Ecology. “This will prevent pollution from impacting the Sound and will protect human health and overall water quality.”

The Washington Department of Health expects to upgrade or open approximately 1,000 acres of commercial shellfish beds for harvesting near marinas with the establishment of the NDZ.

What this means for vessels
Starting May 10, vessels looking to release their sewage loads will need to use a pump-out station or discharge outside the zone. One question vessel owners and operators may have is the availability of pump-out stations. In its review of our proposal, EPA verified that Puget Sound has adequate pumpout facilities to handle the needs of the area. Our website contains information on pumpout options, including locations. You can also find additional information at pumpoutwashington.org.

While in the NDZ, vessels must secure their marine sanitation device.

Some commercial vessels will have until 2023 to comply with the new rule. Those vessels include tug boats, commercial fishing vessels, small commercial passenger vessels, as well as NOAA research and survey vessels. More on these types of vessels can be found on our website.

Under the new No Discharge Zone rule, there is no change to graywater dumping requirements.

Historic day as Puget Sound is designated a no discharge zone! The action will protect shellfish beds, swimming beaches, and other areas are that are especially vulnerable to bacteria in vessel sewage. https://t.co/Bip6yeYvnQ pic.twitter.com/JQDek8bW5s

— WA Dept of Ecology (@EcologyWA) April 10, 2018

Ecology and other agencies are emphasizing education for vessel owners and operators. These outreach and education efforts would be supported by the development of enforcement mechanisms among agencies that patrol waterways in the zone. For additional information about the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, visit our website.

Update about making Puget Sound a No Discharge Zone for vessel sewage

By Sandy Howard, communication manager, Water Quality Program

It’s time to get back to you about our idea to ask that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency make Puget Sound, including Lake Washington, Lake Union and the Lake Washington Ship Canal, off limits to discharging sewage from vessels.

The proposed no discharge zone is part of the state Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda to restore and protect water quality in Washington’s inland marine waters.

One of many actions to help Puget Sound

We are taking on pollution problems on many fronts. This move would join other pollution prevention tactics we’re using, such as finding and fixing failing septic systems, dealing with pet waste, treating our municipal wastewater, and managing our polluted stormwater runoff.

In April, Ecology completed its public comment period on the proposal to potentially establish a no discharge zone. We received more than 26,000 comments in support and about 600 who identified concerns.

We’re currently summarizing the comments. And we’re continuing to work with people who have a variety of viewpoints on the topic.

It will take time

Our goal is to shape a thoughtful proposal. It will take time to do this right. We currently estimate it will be about a year before we make our recommendation to EPA on whether we'll move forward with a no discharge zone or what form it should take.

We plan to consider all input to inform our decision. And, we expect EPA to convene its own public process prior to making a final decision on any no discharge zone.

Thanks for your comments

Most of all we thank everybody for taking time to let us know your thoughts.

Here are a few points we’d like to reiterate:

• There are more than 80 no discharge zones in 26 states. This would be the first one for Washington.
  
• Boat sewage may be small in volume compared to other pollution sources, but this pollution source is not stationary – vessels and their sewage discharges can move into or near sensitive waters placing water quality and public health at risk.
• The draft proposal would affect a limited number of boats overall that need to retrofit. We plan to give vessels the time they need to comply. For example, we propose that tugs and commercial fishing vessels have three years to retrofit their boats with holding tanks, allowing for costs to be phased in and financed over time.
• Some have suggested a partial no discharge zone be adopted – and only make certain areas off limits to vessel sewage. Research tells us that this piecemeal approach has not worked well in other states as it tends to create “dumping zones.”
• Research shows that there is more than adequate pump-out capacity for recreational boaters. For commercial boaters, most discharge at sea and others can use mobile pump-outs, certain dedicated pump-outs, or pumper trucks.
• And, we are exploring options to include more commercial, stationary pump out facilities.

Most boaters already practice good stewardship and keep their vessel sewage discharges from getting into our waters. Establishing a no discharge zone would ensure that is true for all vessels.

After all, when it comes down to clean water, we’re all in the same boat.

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