Ship sewage restricted to greater than 3 miles off coast

[n2doc]

Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 25, 2010


A federal proposal prohibiting cruise and cargo ships from dumping sewage within 3 miles of California's shoreline would close a major loophole in state law and take aim at a long-ignored source of marine and beach pollution.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say the measure, expected to be announced today, will prevent 20 million gallons of sewage from swirling in the state's coastal waters each year while bolstering authorities' ability to impose stiff penalties on offenders.

Experts say the restrictions could go a long way toward improving water quality at California's popular beaches, which are increasingly awash in harmful bacteria, prompting frequent warnings and closures.

More than 150,000 cruise ship passengers in about 60 ships and 2,000 container ships visit San Francisco Bay each year. Statewide, more than 2 million passengers and 14,000 cargo ships come to California's shores.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/25/MN0F1F2N8J.DTL

[mike r]

1. Way long overdue

Should be 5 miles or more.