Mass. seeks 'no discharge zone' in Mount Hope Bay
BOSTON—Federal environmental regulators are evaluating a proposal by the state of Massachusetts to bar the discharge of boat sewage in Mount Hope Bay.
If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the coastal waters of Dighton, Berkley, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea and Fall River.
Mount Hope Bay is shared by Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Sewage discharge has been banned in Rhode Island's portions of Mount Hope Bay since 1998.
The Environmental Protection Agency will accept public comments on the proposal until May 12.
Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan Jr. says the state's goal is to ban discharge in all state coastal waters. The state must demonstrate that there are enough on-shore pumpout facilities before the EPA will endorse a no discharge zone.
