BOSTON (AP) - Environmental officials are considering a proposal to designate the coastal waters of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and the islands as an area where discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited.
The Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management has petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve the "no discharge" designation, which would prohibit discharges within the town boundaries of Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Gosnold, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Chatham and Nantucket.
EPA has published the request in the Federal Register and will accept public comments on the proposal for 30 days, ending May 29.
The proposed designation includes 143 bathing beaches and 26 miles of coastline, and encompasses approximately 733 square miles of state waters.
