HomeMy WebLinkAboutF-9b - Citizens Report of Suspected Illegal Vessel Waste Discharges into Newport Bay(;-7 V -i
Agenda Item No. F. 9. b
BY THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
Marine Department
October 24, 1988
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Harbor Quality Committee/Marine Director
OCT 2 4 1988
SUBJECT: CITIZEN REPORT OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL VESSEL WASTE
DISCHARGES INTO NEWPORT BAY
The Harbor Quality Committee, at their meeting of October 6, 1988,
requested Staff to prepare an informational report for the City
Council outlining procedures established by the Orange County
Harbor Department and the Marine Department to handle citizen
reports of suspected illegal vessel discharges into the bay.
Harbor Master Harry Gage has briefed the Harbor Department
dispatchers and patrolmen on taking pollution calls and calls from
anonymous callers who have observed suspected vessel waste
discharges.
Telephone (714) 723-1002 is answered 24 hours per day at the
Harbor Department facility and is to be used for reporting this
type of incident.
After a call has been received, the vessel in question will be
placed under observation by the Harbor Department patrolmen. At
the conclusion of the investigation, depending on the outcome, a
letter prepared by the Marine Department (attached) will be sent
to the owner of the vessel that was investigated.
The telephone number listed above for reporting vessel discharges
will be added to the next insert for the City's Water Quality
brochure.
David Harshbarger
Marine Director
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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
U P.O. BOX 1768, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658-8915
Dear
The City of Newport Beach Marine Department and the Orange County
Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol Bureau have received
information regarding the possibility of an illegal discharge from
your vessel's marine toilet or holding tank.
The purpose of this letter is to ask your cooperation in helping
Newport Beach protect its harbor water quality by increasing your
knowledge of regulations affecting the harbor and by your
concerned and proper use of this resource.
In that regard, you should be aware that the Newport Beach
Municipal Code, in conjunction with Coast Guard regulations,
requires holding tanks on vessels with marine heads (toilets). In
addition, Newport Harbor has been designated a NO DISCHARGE
HARBOR. In plain terms, this means that no waste of any
description can be deposited into the harbor.
Holding tanks must be pumped out in available pumpout stations, or
outside the city limits, which is three miles at sea. The City,
County, and Regional Water Quality Control Board are actively
pursuing the installation of additional pumpout stations in public
and private marinas. Included with this letter is a Water Quality
brochure and an insert showing the locations of the public pumpout
stations now in operation in Newport Harbor.
Recreational boaters in the harbor are not the sole contributors
to water quality; they are, however, one contributing factor, and
by increased awareness, common sense, and courteous use we can
improve our harbor water quality,
Sincerely,
David Harshbarger,
Marine Director
3300 Newport Boulevard, Newport Beach