‘No-discharge zone’ established

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a state proposal to ban most large ocean-going vessels, such as cruise ships, from discharging sewage along California’s coastline.

Jared Blumenfeld, the EPA’s Pacific Southwest regional administrator, signed a rule on Feb. 9 that prevents ships from dumping sewage—even treated sewage—in the waters from Mexico to California, including areas around major islands, according to an EPA press release. Estimates project the rule will prevent the discharge of more than 22 million gallons of treated vessel-sewage introduced to California’s marine ecosystem each year.

The “no-discharge zone” is a part of the Clean Coast Act, introduced by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), that prohibits commercial ships from dumping hazardous waste, sewage sludge, oily bilge-water and “gray water” from sinks and showers into state waters.