[Watersheds] DEM Awards more than $100K to Seven Community Boat Pumpout Facilities to Keep Coastal Waters Clean -5-24-24

Fri May 24 13:30:51 EDT 2024

[DEM-logo-small]
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 | http://www.dem.ri.gov<http://www.dem.ri.gov> | @RhodeIslandDEM

CONTACT:                                                                                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100                                                                                           Friday, May 24, 2024
Dem.communications at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Dem.communications at dem.ri.gov>

DEM AWARDS MORE THAN $100,000 TO SEVEN COMMUNITY
BOAT PUMPOUT FACILITIES TO KEEP COASTAL WATERS CLEAN

[cid:image004.png at 01DAADDE.96A435E0]PROVIDENCE, RI - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announces the award of $139,254 in matching grants to help communities and businesses expand and maintain boat pump-out facilities across Rhode Island. The grants are funded under the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Clean Vessel Act (CVA)<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=41&q=US*Fish**A26*Wildlife*Service*Clean*Vessel*Act&cvid=07633fe3261d4dba81c1c99223a7b184&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQRRj8VdIBDTI2NTgxOTc3MWowajGoAgCwAgA&FORM=ANNAB1&PC=U531__;KyslKysrKys!!KKphUJtCzQ!LNRozPlquWp9LH_4nepX8cMIqJazUqaTiUDxoqbwoOqYbUhjCP-AHCzYn7_lUJjX9b9Ql-Oyde9TAJQFKM12CcUNgWyojhxdLdkn$ [bing[.]com]> and support seven projects throughout Rhode Island waters. Since 1994, DEM has awarded more than $2.5 million in CVA Clean Vessel grants.

"Most of us know it's not right to discharge wastewater directly from our boats into Narragansett Bay or the ocean. In fact, it's illegal to pump waste within three nautical miles of the Rhode Island coast," said DEM Director Terry Gray. "DEM works with municipal and marine trades partners to prevent the discharge of boat sewage, which impairs water quality by introducing bacteria and other pathogens and chemicals that are harmful to humans and marine life. The support of the USFWS CVA helps accomplish this by subsidizing pump-out facilities that empower thousands of Rhode Island recreational boaters to do their part to keep the bay and our local waters clean, which are central to the Ocean State's environment, way of life, and economy."

Boat sewage can threaten water quality by introducing bacteria and other pathogens, excess nutrients, and chemicals that are harmful to humans and marine life. In 1998, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to receive a statewide "no discharge" designation from the US Environmental Protection Agency that prohibits boaters from discharging sewage into local waterways.

The 2024 grant recipients include:

  *   Stanley's Boat Yard- $4,775 for the replacement of an existing stationary pumpout and purchase of mobile cart in the Barrington River
  *   Greenwich Cove Marina - $29,200 for the construction of a new stationary pumpout in Greenwich Cove
  *   Providence Marina - $1,100 for the maintenance of a stationary pumpout in the Providence River
  *   Barrington Yacht Club - $1,477 for the maintenance of a stationary pumpout in the Barrington River
  *   Town of New Shoreham - $6,550 for maintenance of five existing mobile pumpout boats in Great Salt Pond
  *   Town of Bristol - $86,487 for the purchase of a new pumpout boat in Bristol Harbor
  *   Town of Westerly - $9,665 for the maintenance of two existing pumpout boats in the Pawcatuck River

DEM works with municipal and marine trades partners to reduce pollution entering local waters. Boat sewage can pose a significant threat to water quality by potentially introducing bacteria and other pathogens that can jeopardize public health. In 1998, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to receive a statewide "no discharge" designation from the US Environmental Protection Agency prohibiting boaters from discharging sewage into local waterways.

There are currently 63 marine sanitation pump-out facilities operating in RI waters - 48 dockside pump-out facilities and 15 pump-out boats. Many existing facilities require repair and upgrades as they have exceeded their useful life expectancy since initial construction. All pumpout facilities must be kept fully operational to adequately meet demand and help prevent sewage discharges into RI waters. The grants require a 25% funding match and funded facilities must be available to all boaters. In addition, grant recipients agree to charge no more than $5 per 30 gallons of sewage pumped. Visit DEM's website for a map<http://www.dem.ri.gov/maps/mapfile/pumpmap.pdf> of marine pumpout facilities in Rhode Island.

Some 40,000 boats are registered in Rhode Island, and the state welcomes many thousands more visiting boats each year. Last year, a total volume of over 600,000 gallons of sewage was pumped out at these facilities and diverted from directly entering Rhode Island's coastal waters.

Along with fishing and many other commercial and recreational interests, Rhode Island shellfish harvesters benefit from CVA pumpout grants. For more information on RI shellfish harvesting, click here<https://dem.ri.gov/environmental-protection-bureau/water-resources/research-monitoring/shellfish-area-monitoring> or email here DEM.Shellfish at dem.ri.gov<mailto:DEM.Shellfish at dem.ri.gov>. For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit http://www.dem.ri.gov<http://www.dem.ri.gov/>. Follow DEM on Facebook<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!LNRozPlquWp9LH_4nepX8cMIqJazUqaTiUDxoqbwoOqYbUhjCP-AHCzYn7_lUJjX9b9Ql-Oyde9TAJQFKM12CcUNgWyojiub-rzt$ [facebook[.]com]>, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

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Evan LaCross, MPA
Programming Services Officer, Public Affairs
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908
401-799-0100 (c)
evan.lacross at dem.ri.gov<mailto:evan.lacross at dem.ri.gov> (E); http://www.dem.ri.gov<http://www.dem.ri.gov/> (W)
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