# 2025-22152: Virginia Bans Boat Sewage: Pump-Outs or Bust in Northern Neck 2025-22152, Virginia-Waters of the Northern Neck Peninsula Vessel Sewage No-Discharge Zone; Tentative Affirmative Determination, is a Federal Register notice from Environmental Protection Agency published 2025-12-08, effective Comments must be received on or before January 7, 2026. (as of 2026-06-08). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-22152 - As of: 2026-06-08 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-22152 - Title: Virginia-Waters of the Northern Neck Peninsula Vessel Sewage No-Discharge Zone; Tentative Affirmative Determination - Type: Notice - Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency - Citation: 90 FR 56748 - Published: 2025-12-08 - Effective: Comments must be received on or before January 7, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-01-07 - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-08 ## In one line Virginia Bans Boat Sewage: Pump-Outs or Bust in Northern Neck ## Summary Virginia wants to keep the waters around the Northern Neck Peninsula super clean by banning all boat sewage dumping in Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland, and Westmoreland counties. They’ve asked the EPA to approve this no-dump zone because there are enough places for boats to safely get rid of their sewage. If approved, boaters will have to use these facilities starting soon, helping protect local waters without extra costs. ## Abstract Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, the Commonwealth of Virginia has determined that the protection and enhancement of the quality of the waters of the Northern Neck peninsula require greater environmental protection. As such, Virginia has submitted an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency), Region 3, for a determination that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available, so that Virginia may completely prohibit the discharge from all vessels of any sewage, whether treated or not, into such waters. The proposed no-discharge zone includes waters in the counties of Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland, and Westmoreland. Through this notice, the EPA is soliciting public comment on the Agency's tentative determination that adequate facilities for the safe and sanitary removal and treatment of sewage from all vessels are reasonably available for the waters subject to the proposed no-discharge zone. ## Effects PRIA read - Complete Sewage Discharge Ban Proposed: cost, low. Virginia asked the EPA to designate a vessel sewage no-discharge zone that would completely prohibit the discharge from all vessels of any sewage, whether treated or not, in waters of the Northern Neck peninsula in Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland, and Westmoreland counties. If finalized, boat o… - Retrofit or Secure Boat Toilets Required: cost, low. The notice says vessels with flow-through marine sanitation devices (Type I or II) that operate inside the proposed no-discharge zone would need to retrofit to holding tanks (Type III) so sewage can be pumped out, or demonstrate compliance by securing flow-through devices under U.S. Coast Guard rul… - Pump-Out Facilities Mostly Available: benefit, low. Virginia identified 25 marinas with pump-out facilities serving the Northern Neck, 24 of which are publicly accessible. The EPA found most recreational pump-outs are low cost: 18 of the 24 public facilities charge $10 or less per pump-out, and EPA tentatively determined facilities can meet expected… - Small Cost Increase for Commercial Vessels: cost, low. The EPA used a cost tool and estimated increases in baseline operating costs if a no-discharge zone is established: tugboats 0.2%, commercial fishing vessels 1.8%, excursion vessels 2.3%, and offshore vessels 1.3%. The EPA calls these estimates conservative and says time spent pumping out contribut… - Some Boaters Must Travel Further: cost, low. The application notes some creeks (e.g., Antipoison Creek and Dividing Creek) and low-traffic waters lack nearby pump-outs; vessel operators there may travel between 5.5 and 10.9 miles to adjacent waterways to access pump-outs, or travel 0.25 to 3.2 miles outside the proposed zone to discharge sewa… - Wastewater Treatment Capacity Adequate: benefit, low. Virginia identified seven wastewater treatment plants (design capacities 0.030 to 10 MGD) that would receive pumped sewage; estimated vessel sewage during a peak weekend is about 24,000 gallons (0.012 MGD over two days). The EPA tentatively determined these treatment facilities can handle the addit… ## Related documents - [2026-19071](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19071): Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units, 2026-09-17 - [2026-19072](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19072): Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emiss…, 2026-09-17 - [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09 - [2026-14112](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14112): Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions fo…, 2026-07-14 - [2026-13667](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13667): Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans, 2026-07-07 - [2026-13263](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13263): Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems, 2026-07-01 ## Sources - [2025-22152 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/08/2025-22152/virginia-waters-of-the-northern-neck-peninsula-vessel-sewage-no-discharge-zone-tentative-affirmative) - [2025-22152 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-08/pdf/2025-22152.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-22151, Notice of Board Meeting](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-22151) - [Next: 2025-22153, Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-22153) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-22152 (as of 2026-06-08).