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Manhasset
Bay Bulletin Fall 2003
Volume
1, Issue 3
The
Committee Implements A New Strategic Plan
September
11th kick started a new phase for the Manhasset Bay Protection Committee.
As the Committee continues to work towards its goal of restoring
and protecting Manhasset Bay and its watershed, it will begin to
focus its efforts on the EPA Phase II Stormwater Regulations and
helping member municipalities comply with the regulated public education,
outreach, and involvement activities.
What
are the U.S. EPA Stormwater Regulations?
Polluted storm water runoff is often transported to municipal separate
storm sewer systems (MS4s) and can be discharged into local rivers
and streams without treatment. The new Phase II rule establishes
an MS4 storm water management program that is intended to improve
the Nation's waterways by reducing the quantity of pollutants that
storm water picks up and carries into storm sewers during storm
events. The Phase II program requires that MS4s address these problems
through six elements:
1)
Public Education and Outreach
2) Public Participation/Involvement
3) Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4) Construction Site Runoff Control
5) Post-construction Site Runoff Control
6) Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
The
Manhasset Bay Protection Committee has created a plan for implementing
many activities that fall within the first and second elements of
the program: Public Education/Outreach, and Public Participation/Involvement.
How
does this help member municipalities comply with the regulations?
A municipality's participation in the Committee ensures that member
municipality will be given credit for those activities implemented
by the Committee as if they implemented them on their own.
What
are some of the activities that the Committee will be coordinating?
Public Education & Outreach
Education Flyers
Media Campaigns
Informational Displays
Speakers to community groups
Native Plant Garden
Website Coordination
Public
Involvement/Participation Mailing List
Storm-drain stenciling
Home Assessment Survey
Website Coordination
The following article comes from the Boat US Foundation. The Boat
U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization that creates innovative outreach campaigns,
conducts research and helps boaters be safer and better stewards
of the environment. The Foundation is primarily supported by tax
deductible contributions from boaters. For more information, visit
boatus.com/foundation or call 800-336-BOAT.
Cleaner
Greener Fall Boating Tips from the Boat U.S. Foundation
With
cool weather in the air, boaters are taking full advantage of the
final days of boating season. While out on the water this fall,
there are some specific things you can do to minimize your impact
on the marine environment. The end of the boating season is also
a time to think ahead for the coming spring.
Here
are some ideas to consider:
-
Keep it clean. Try rinsing your boat off and scrubbing it with
only fresh water after every trip.
- Go
before you go. Ask all your boat guests if they'd like to use
onshore restrooms before you go out on a day trip. This will reduce
the amount of holding tank waste you have to deal with onboard
your boat.
-
Tune up your engine. Fix any oil leaks promptly and use the off-season
to tune up your engine. Recycle used oil and, if possible, oil
filters. (For information on a variety of local recycling and
re-use opportunities, log on to www.earth911.com and enter your
zip code.)
- Soak
up oil in your bilge. Put a bilge "sock" into your bilge
to absorb any stray oil before it has a chance to get pumped overboard
with the automatic bilge pump.
- Work
away from the water. If you're pulling your boat out of the water
for the season, use the time in the yard wisely to perform painting,
tougher maintenance and deep cleaning over a filtering tarp. This
will reduce the likelihood that these chemicals will end up in
the water.
Potential
Designation of Disposal Site(s) in Long Island Sound Dredge Material
Disposal
The
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region I, New England
and Region II, New York in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (Corps), New England and New York Districts has prepared
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to consider the potential
designation of one or more dredged material disposal sites in the
waters of Long Island Sound.
The
DEIS provides an evaluation of the existing historically used sites
as well as additional alternatives including other open water disposal
sites, other types of dredged material disposal and management,
and the no action alternative.
Comments
on the DEIS will be accepted until November 17th. The Committee
is in the process of reviewing and commenting on the document. If
you are interested in this document, please contact Jenifer at 516-869-7835
to arrange a chance to review or make copies.
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