USEPA and NJDEP End Discharges
of Sewage from Boats
into Barnegat Bay

	"Designating Barnegat Bay Estuary a No Discharge Zone safeguards public health, protects marine life and supports local shore economies that rely on clean coastal resources," - DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently established a "No Discharge Zone" in New Jersey's Barnegat Bay, prohibiting boats from releasing treated or untreated sewage into an 85 square nautical-mile area off the coast of Ocean County. Former Administrator Christie Whitman, Commissioner Campbell, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator William J. Muszynski, Ocean County Freeholder Director John Bartlett, Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano and others gathered at Berkeley Island County Park to sign a resolution recognizing the Bay's environmental, recreational and economic value to New Jersey, and ending what had been one source of bacterial contamination in bay waters.

"Designating Barnegat Bay Estuary a No Discharge Zone safeguards public health, protects marine life and supports local shore economies that rely on clean coastal resources," said DEP Commissioner Campbell. "The McGreevey Administration continues to enact long-term measures that protect the state's ocean waters to ensure that residents and visitors continue to enjoy and have access to New Jersey's beautiful shoreline."

Barnegat Bay is a shallow lagoon-type estuary bordered by two barrier islands - Island Beach and Long Beach Island. It provides an important recreational outlet for the people of New Jersey, and supports hard clam and blue crab populations for harvest. Boat sewage in waterbodies like the Bay can lead to health problems for swimmers, closed shellfish beds, and the overall degradation of marine habitats.

DEP applied to EPA to make Barnegat Bay a No Discharge Zone. In considering the application, EPA took into account the number of pump-out facilities available to receive sewage waste from the 28,000 boats that sail the Bay during the boating season. EPA determined that the Bay's 66 stationary pump-out facilities (many of which are at marinas) and three pump-out vessels were more than sufficient.

Barnegat Bay was added to the National Estuary Program in 1995. A Barnegat Bay Estuary Program was formed shortly thereafter, comprising federal, state, county and local officials, and non-profit and citizen stakeholders. In 2002, the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program completed, and the State of New Jersey and Administrator Whitman approved, a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to protect and restore the Bay. One of the many goals of the Plan was to establish a No Discharge Zone.