APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL NO DISCHARGE ZONE DESIGNATION

improvement of impaired tidal creeks. Vessels operating in these designated areas may be prohibited from discharging treated and untreated waste into the waters. A No Discharge Zone (NDZ) can be established on those tidal creeks where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that sufficient facilities exist for the removal of sewage. The designation of NDZs is established by an application process overseen and approved by the EPA. In order to determine the applicability of the requested NDZ designation, each application must include the criteria necessary for EPA review as listed in the “Protecting Coastal Waters from Vessel and Marina Discharges: A Guide for State and Local Officials,” (www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/nodischarge/index.htm