No discharge zone resources & studies

No Discharge Zone Petition Requirements and Petition Research

• This report summarizes the requirements and approaches to petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a no discharge zone and an overview of research on some other states' petitions.

Puget Sound No Discharge Zone for Vessel Sewage

• This report provides an inventory of Puget Sound conditions and identifies areas sensitive to nutrients and pathogens. The report also includes an overview of existing regulations and agreements governing vessel sewage discharges in Puget Sound and a basic assessment of the types and efficacy of marine sanitation devices. It summarizes the costs and benefits of putting a no discharge zone in place.

Puget Sound Vessel Population and Pumpout Facilities - part 3 and Phase 2 Vessel Population and Pumpout Facility Estimates - part 4​

• These two reports provide an assessment of Puget Sound’s vessel population and the availability of pumpout facilities. The Phase II report fills in some of the data gaps identified in the first report.

Phase 2 Commercial Vessel Sewage Management and Pumpout

• This report summarizes the results of an information gathering effort about wastewater management practices of commercial vessels operating in Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Recreational Boater Survey Results

• This report summarizes the Puget Sound Boater Survey for recreational boats that was conducted in the summer of 2012 to collect data about sewage management practices and habits.

A Review of Implementation Strategies in Other States

• This report provides a summary of no discharge zone implementation done in other no discharge zone areas and recommendations for implementation of similar zone in Puget Sound.

2013 advisory group meeting notes

• We asked stakeholders to review the available research and address other potential issues related to a no discharge zone.

Draft Petition to Designate the Waters of Puget Sound as a No Discharge Zone

Cover letter to EPA requesting their review of the draft no discharge zone petition

• This is an informal draft petition submitted for public comment in 2014.

Response to Comments: 2014 Draft Petition to Designate the Waters of Puget Sound as a No Discharge Zone

• In 2014, we held a 60-day public comment period on the daft petition to designate Puget Sound waters as a no discharge zone. We received more than 26,000 comments. We reviewed, organized, and responded to the comments.

Puget Sound NDZ Commercial Vessel Economic Evaluation Memorandum

• This memorandum summarizes an evaluation of potential cost impacts of a no discharge zone for commercial tug and fishing boats and small passenger vessels.

No Discharge Zone Implementation Strategy, A Framework for Action

• This report lays out the education, outreach, and enforcement strategy for implementing a no discharge zone in Puget Sound.

Final Petition to Designate the Waters of Puget Sound as a No Discharge Zone 

• This is the Department of Ecology's Final Petition requesting that the EPA designate the Puget Sound as defined in the petition as a no discharge zone for vessel sewage. July 2016.
• Supplemental Information on Commercial Vessel Pumpout Availability to the Final Petition to Designate the Waters of Puget Sound as a No Discharge Zone

Environmental Protection Agency Notice of Final Affirmative Determination 

• This is EPA's Final Affirmative Determination in the Federal Register that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the waters as defined in the Final Petition.

Our evaluation includes further science-based studies and reports such as:

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation small cruiseship sample reports

• This report includes sample results, including fecal coliform, for type II marine sanitation devices water from small cruise ships in Alaska for each year. The most recent report (2013) includes results ranging from 0.0 to 4.6 million fecal coliform per 100 milliliters.

Assessment of Potential Health Impacts of Virus Discharge from Cruise Ships to Shellfish Growing Areas in Puget Sound

• A study of potential human health impacts from virus discharges of large passenger vessels. These results show that if advanced wastewater treatment systems malfunction, virus discharges from cruise ships may reach some shellfish beds at levels that might lead to illness.

Cruise Ship Discharge Assessment Report

• An assessment of five cruise ship waste streams.

Tracer simulations 

• We investigated how waters move in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea to address questions related to the No Discharge Zone petition.

Evaluation of Improved Type 1 Marine Sanitation Devices: Performance Evaluation Report

• A study evaluating the effectiveness of type I Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs) in reducing fecal coliform bacteria and solids.

Liberty Bay Marina Study 2010

• An assessment of water quality impacts from untreated sewage discharges, differences in water quality inside versus outside the marina, and during high versus low usage. The results showed higher levels of fecal coliform bacteria inside marinas compared to areas outside the marinas and higher during weekend events.

• We received more than 26,000 comments. We reviewed, organized, and responded to the comments.

• This memorandum summarizes an evaluation of potential cost impacts of a no discharge zone for commercial tug and fishing boats and small passenger vessels.

• This report lays out the education, outreach, and enforcement strategy for implementing a no discharge zone in Puget Sound.