No Discharge Zones
Issue: states or localities can submit a request to the Envinromental Protection Agency to declare that particular waterbodies be designated No Discharge Zones. EPA bases their decision on water quality, as well as if there are enough pumpouts in a particular area to handle the number of boats using the waterway. AMI will look to support on a case by case basis but with the overreaching argument that NDZ should not be implemented unless it is broadened in scope to include pollution discharges from municipalities, agriculture and industry. Boating discharges are generally less than 2% of the problem in water quality issues so even if NDZ was implemented the effect to overall water quality improvement would be negligible unless other pollution sources were also curbed. There is a dual standard between boaters and other potential polluters.
Action: watching OR, VA and MD discussions on making more of their waters NDZ.