Clean Vessel Act Grant Program

Recreational boating is a popular activity in the U.S. There are approximately 13 million registered boats in the U.S., and each year over 70 million people enjoy a host of water-based recreational opportunities, such as fishing, cruising, waterskiing, and spending time with family and friends. Many recreational boats are equipped with on-board toilets and wastewater holding tanks, known as Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). Proper disposal of recreational boat-related sewage is important in preserving and improving water quality in the country's vital aquatic ecosystems. CVA provides States with Federal funding to support their ongoing efforts to improve recreational boating opportunities and provide boaters with clean, efficient facilities to prevent waste disposal into public waterways and other ecosystems. CVA is one of the Service's user pay, public benefit grant programs. Excise taxes paid through motorboat fuel and sport fishing equipment purchases go into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Approximately two percent of the trust fund is available for CVA grants each fiscal year. This year, we expect CVA to fund approximately $14 million in grants. Each year pumpouts and dump stations funded through CVA and matched with State, local, and/or private funds have a large impact on reducing the amount of potential waste in our nation's waters. This has resulted in tremendous benefits such as improved water quality for public drinking water supplies, river ecosystems, and shellfish beds, convenient service for boaters on U.S. navigable waters, and boaters who are informed of how best to dispose of vessel sewage. Since the inception of CVA, the grant program has funded over 6,000 pumpouts and dump stations and has provided funds to help operate and maintain over 3,700 systems. Through dedication of the States, private marinas, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, States Organization for Boating Access, environmental groups, and the boating public, millions of gallons of sewage have been diverted from polluting U.S. waters each year. These groups have also been instrumental in maintaining and operating the facilities in working order and providing information for the boating public regarding the importance of keeping our waters clean by using pumpout and dump stations. The program slogan is: Keep Our Water Clean - Use Pumpouts.