The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is taking steps to preserve the quality of coastal waters in Long Island Sound by seeking to ban discharge of sewage from boats in local waters.
It has set up information sessions on the proposal Wednesday and Thursday in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford.
The DEP plans to ask the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve designation of the waters from the eastern border of Branford to the western border of Greenwich as a No Discharge Area.
The area would include the Quinnipiac River from North Haven and the Housatonic River from Derby Dam in Derby to the coastal waters of Long Island Sound, according to an announcement.
The public will be able to view maps of the affected areas, examine environmental and public health benefits, and inquire about compliance and enforcement issues attached to the No Discharge Area designation.
The public is encouraged to drop in at any time as there will be no formal presentation, the announcement said.
The following sessions have been scheduled: Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bridgeport Aquaculture School, 60 Saint Stephens Road, Bridgeport; Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., Norwalk; and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Stamford Government Center in the South Western Regional Planning Offices on the third floor 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford. (A photo ID is required to enter the Stamford Government Center.)
Eliminating the release of sewage from boats, both treated and untreated, will result in reductions of nutrient loading and exposure to bacterial pathogens in swimming areas, shellfish beds and other environmentally sensitive aquatic habitats, the announcement said.
At present the discharge from boats of untreated sewage is prohibited, however treated sewage from Type I and Type II Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs) may be legally discharged. If a No Discharge Area is established, the discharge from boats of treated as well as untreated sewage will be prohibited within the designated area.
A No Discharge Area is under consideration to eliminate confusion about what may be discharged and to reduce the accidental discharge of untreated or poorly treated waste from poorly maintained or non-functional sanitation systems, according to the announcement.
The EPA has already approved the designation of the Connecticut waters from the Rhode Island border to Eastern Point in Groton as a No Discharge Area. The EPA is currently reviewing an application for approval of the designation of Connecticut coastal waters from Groton to Guilford as a No Discharge Area.
More information on the No Discharge Area program is available at the project Web site, www.ctnodischargearea.org.
