Florida-Indian River-Vero Beach to Fort Pierce Aquatic Preserve Vessel Sewage No-Discharge Zone; Tentative Affirmative Determination

Zusammenfassung

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the State of Florida has determined that the protection and enhancement of the quality of the waters within the Indian River-Vero Beach to Fort Pierce Aquatic Preserve ("the Preserve") requires greater environmental protection. As such, Florida has submitted an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, for a determination that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available, so that the State may completely prohibit the discharge from all vessels of any sewage, whether treated or not, into such waters. The proposed no-discharge zone encompasses the 9,500 acres of the Preserve located in the Indian River and St. Lucie counties. The Preserve extends 12 miles from the southern Vero Beach corporate limit south to the north U.S. Highway A1A bridge in Fort Pierce. Through this notice, EPA is soliciting public comment on the Agency's tentative affirmative determination that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the waters subject to the proposed no-discharge zone.