NYS boosts grants for boating pump-out stations

State officials plan to boost funding for the Clean Vessel Assistance Program, a grant initiative that helps marinas install and upgrade boat pump-out stations that reduce water pollution.

The funding raises the maximum grant for pump-out boat purchases to $80,000 from $60,000. The state is also increasing funding for stationary pump-out facilities and upgrades to $40,000 from $35,000.

Pump-out boats are mobile vessels equipped with sanitary vacuum systems that empty sewage tanks. They travel directly to boats that are docked or on the water. Alternatively, boaters can travel to stationary pump-out facilities to dispose of wastewater.

The intention is to help fund infrastructure that allows recreational boaters to dispose of septic waste properly, rather than release it into the water.

"The water around us shapes this community," said Maureen A. Coleman, president and CEO of the state's Environmental Facilities Corporation, during a news conference Tuesday at Tanner Park Marina in Copiague. "It supports generations of boaters, anglers, waterfront businesses and families who spend their time on the bay."

Coleman said the agency, which describes itself on its website as the state's "water infrastructure bank," has awarded about $136,000 to Babylon Town for pump-out operations at its marinas, including Tanner Park.

"EFC's mission is to make any kind of water infrastructure that communities need affordable so they can undertake those projects," Coleman said.

State Sen. Monica R. Martinez (D-Brentwood) said the funding is especially important on Long Island.

"Whether it's the ocean, the Sound, our local bays or our waterways, they are a part of who we are and what draws visitors from across the country here this time of year," she said at the news conference on Tuesday, which was attended by several elected officials.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said the investment helps both the environment and recreational boaters.

"The most important thing about this program and investing in this program is it helps keep our waterways clean and allows boaters to enjoy their time on the water without always having to think about how to get back to the marina," Romaine said.

Most of New York's coastal waters are designated no-discharge zones, making it illegal to release sewage, whether it's treated or untreated, from boats.

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit, said the program prevents an estimated 1 million gallons of wastewater from entering local waterways each summer.

"While you think this might be a little drop in the bay, it really isn't," Esposito said during the news conference. "It has a significant meaning, and it is very important to get that wastewater out of our beloved and cherished estuaries, bays and harbors."

Boaters can identify pump-out stations by looking for a bright orange flag displayed next to them or going on the EFC’s Clean Vessel Assistance Program website, which has a map pinpointing the stations.

Eligible marinas, municipalities and nonprofits can apply for Clean Vessel Assistance Program grants on a rolling basis through the Environmental Facilities Corporation.

“Clean water does not happen by accident. It happens because of investments, partnerships and people who are committed to protecting New York's natural resources,” Coleman said.