$1 Million Federal Funds – Boating ‘Pump-Out’ Programs

Governor Rell Announces $1 Million In Federal Funds for Boating ‘Pump-Out’ Programs; 43 Programs Receiving Grants

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that more than $1 million in federal funds will be used to continue or expand “pump-out” programs along Long Island Sound to provide boaters with a convenient and environmentally safe way to dispose of sewage from their vessels.

“Long Island Sound is clearly one of the most important natural resources for our state. It defines Connecticut in so many ways and our stewardship of it must never waver. Preserving and improving the water quality in the Sound is a priority and will be for generations,” Governor Rell said.

“Working together with our federal and local partners we have made significant strides toward eliminating discharges from boats, making our waters and beaches cleaner,” the Governor said.

The Governor said the success of the pump-out program, funded through the federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program, has allowed Connecticut to designate all of Long Island Sound as a ‘No Discharge Area’ in 2007 and the grants being awarded will finance upgrades to existing facilities and construction of new ones.

Federal officials said the Connecticut CVA program, along with one other state program, received the highest federal grant award this year.

“Connecticut is a great example of how the program should work and we are pleased to support this success with these grants,” said Alberto Ortiz, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region CVA Coordinator

New projects this year span the coastline of Connecticut and include two important upgrades and one new construction in Milford.  A brand new pump-out boat offloading connection and dock are being funded at the municipal sewage treatment facility in Stonington Harbor as well as a new pump-out station at O’Sullivans Island in Derby on the Housatonic River.  The grants will also support construction at the Darien Boat Club in Noroton Harbor and the purchase of a new pump-out vessel in Mystic.

The CVA funding is supported by excise taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels. Up to 75 percent of the cost of an approved project may be reimbursed under the program, which is designed to increase the availability of proper waste handling facilities for boaters and reduce the discharge or poorly treated or untreated sanitary wastes into the waters of Long Island Sound and its harbors.

Since 1993, the CVA program has awarded more than $8 million in grants since 1993, providing grants to small marine business owners, municipalities, and non-profit organizations.  With the success of this program, sufficient facilities exist so that the entire Connecticut side of Long Island Sound has been designated as a No-Discharge Area with U.S. EPA approval.

For more information about this program, visit the DEP web page at www.ct.gov/dep/cva or contact Kate Hughes Brown, Grants and Outreach Coordinator, at (860) 424-3652 or by email at kate.brown@ct.gov.

Following is a list of projects being funded this year: