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MIAMI – Committed to improving Florida’s water quality, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently awarded the City of
Miami’s Dinner Key Marina $84,508 in grant funding under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA)
program to reduce boater sewage from entering Biscayne Bay.
The City of Miami’s Dinner Key Marina completed a pumpout project to “Keep
Florida’s Water Clean.” Funded through the DEP Clean Vessel Act grant program,
the marina used grant funds to purchase a pumpout boat that will offer free
services at the marina and the recently opened, 225 vessel municipal mooring
field. The grant also provided funds for operation of the boat for the first
year.
The marina, a designated member of the Florida Clean Marina Program, received
75 percent of the total cost for the pumpout boat from CVA and Florida Inland
Navigation District grants. The pumpout boat offers boaters an easy and free way
to properly dispose of sewage wastewater and safeguard Florida’s water. The
service is available to the public Mondays and Fridays by appointment with the
marina.
“We commend the commitment shown by the City of Miami to protect Florida’s
natural resources and prevent harmful, untreated waste from being released into
the state’s waterways,” said DEP’s Director of Sustainable Initiatives Deas
Bohn. “This new equipment provides boaters the ability to help protect Florida’s
clear waters, world-class beaches and coral reefs.”
The City of Miami’s Dinner Key Marina joins more than 400 marine facilities
that have installed pumpout projects with Clean Vessel Act grant funds through
DEP. Passed in 1992 and funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Clean Vessel Act reduces pollution from boats by financing the construction,
operation and maintenance of pumpout stations at qualified marinas and
boatyards. Florida’s pumpout facilities have prevented more than 10 million
gallons of sewage from entering the state’s waterways over the last 15 years.
Since initiating pumpout service in March 2009 to moored and anchored vessels
in the Miami city waters, over 150 vessels have been serviced and over 4,000
gallons of sewage have been safely disposed of from the city.
“The public and boating community has overwhelmingly welcomed our new service
and we are grateful to DEP for their partnership and assistance purchasing our
pumpout vessel, and we look forward to working with them on future environmental
improvement projects,” said City of Miami’s Marinas Manager Stephen H. Bogner.
Boaters are prohibited from discharging raw sewage into freshwater and
coastal waters within nine miles of the Gulf coast and three miles of the
Atlantic coast. To further protect the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys, the
state and federal governments designated the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary as a no discharge zone. Releasing untreated waste from boats can
impact aquatic life and human health by introducing bacteria, nutrients and
chemicals into waterways.
DEP's Office of Sustainable Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary,
non-regulatory programs that assist Florida industry and citizens in protecting
the environment. The Florida Clean Marina Program, the Clean Vessel Act grant
program, and the Florida Green Lodging Program offer a variety of services
including on-site assessments, consultations, speakers and workshops, all at no
cost to citizens or organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives
programs is to meet the needs of the present population without compromising
resources for future generations. To learn more about DEP's Sustainable
Initiatives, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/green.
For more information on the Clean Vessel Act or to locate pumpout stations in
Florida, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/cva.
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2012 State of Florida