The overboard discharge of sewage from recreational boats is a serious threat to public health and water quality in virginias coastal waters

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $186,157 Clean Vessel Act (CFDA 15.616) Project Grant to the Virginia State Board of Health's Office of Emergency Preparedness. The grant will support the Virginia Marina Program's efforts to reduce sewage discharge from recreational boats in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Specifically, the funding will be used to:

1. Ensure adequate sanitary facilities, pumpout equipment, and sewage dump stations are available at boat mooring locations to properly handle waste from boating activities, in accordance with state regulations.

2. Educate boat owners on the public health and environmental threats posed by improperly discharging raw or partially treated sewage overboard.

The grant will also fund a part-time administrative position to oversee field inspections, database management, educational outreach, and other program responsibilities. Additionally, the funding will upgrade the Marina Program's educational outreach through the purchase of a display for boat shows and environmental conferences, as well as advertisements, promotional materials, and office supplies. The project period runs from April 1, 2024 through May 31, 2026.

The marina program within the virginia department of health (VDH) is responsible for managing the clean vessel act (CVA) grant and is dedicated to abating the discharge of raw or partially treated sewage. The virginia CVA program supports federal and state efforts to protect the chesapeake BAY and its tributaries from a source of contamination that is entirely preventable. The VDH-marina programs administration of the CVA grant is based on two objectives. The first objective is to ensure that adequate sanitary facilities, pump-out equipment, and sewage dump stations are made available at boat mooring locations to handle waste generated from boating activity in accordance with the commonwealth of virginia sanitary regulations for marinas and boat moorings (regulations). The second objective is to educate boat owners with type III marine sanitation devices (MSD) or portable toilets regarding public health and environmental threats posed by improperly discharging raw or partially treated sewage overboard. The CVA administration grant will assist the marina programs in hiring a part-time position to execute administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities include but not limited to field inspection of installed or renovated pump-out units, processing, database management, educational outreach, financing, and other duties as assigned. The grant will also be used to upgrade the marina programs educational outreach efforts with the purchase of a display used at boat shows and environmental conferences. The grant will also be used to purchase advertisements, promotions, trade show handouts, printing, travel, and office supplies.