3010 Main Street, P.O. Box 398, Barnstable, MA 02630-0398

Ph: 508-362-4226 Email: info@apcc.org Website: www.apcc.org

A non-profit organization. Dues and contributions tax-deductible as provided by law.

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February 26, 2014

Mr. Todd Callaghan

No Discharge Area Coordinator

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

251 Causeway Street, Suite 800

Boston, MA 02114

Re: Letter of support for Statewide No Discharge Area

Dear Mr. Callaghan:

On behalf of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), I am pleased to express our 

strong support for the proposed Statewide No Discharge Area (NDA). 

APCC was founded in 1968 to promote policies and programs that enhance the protection of 

the natural resources of Cape Cod. APCC is the Cape’s largest environmental organization 

and has 5,000 members from all 15 towns on Cape Cod. In our 46 years, we have 

successfully advocated for protection of the Cape’s water resources, open space, and natural 

resources (see www.apcc.org ). Since 2006 APCC has served as the Regional Service 

Provider of the Cape Cod region of the Massachusetts Bays Program, whose mission is to 

protect and restore the coastal ecosystems of Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay. 

This landmark designation would protect the coastal waters of Cape Cod from the harmful 

effects of boat sewage discharges, whether treated or not. It would close the three remaining 

gaps in NDA coverage in the Commonwealth, including two gaps between Cape Cod and the 

Islands, and consolidate all NDAs into a single Statewide No Discharge Area. 

Cape Cod’s coastal waters contain valuable habitat for shellfish, fish, marine mammals and 

rare species. The Cape’s economy depends upon clean coastal waters for shellfishing, 

fishing, swimming and coastal tourism. No Discharge Area designation will protect these 

valuable resources and human uses by eliminating all vessel sewage discharges, whether 

treated or not. The health of our estuaries will benefit by eliminating all vessel sewage 

sources of nitrogen, bacteria and harmful chemicals. 

APCC has worked with CZM, other organizations, towns and harbormasters to nominate 

other No Discharge Areas for the Cape’s coastal waters. We applaud CZM’s hard work in 

coordinating the many actions that had to occur before this final NDA designation could 

occur. However, it is important to support the long-term operations and maintenance of 

pumpout facilities in order to ensure that boat sewage is properly collected and disposed. 

Also, the designation should not signal the end or a reduction in boater education and 

outreach. There will be a continued need for such education to help ensure that the Statewide 

NDA designation is effective at eliminating boat sewage discharges. 
3010 Main Street, P.O. Box 398, Barnstable, MA 02630-0398

Ph: 508-362-4226 Email: info@apcc.org Website: www.apcc.org

A non-profit organization. Dues and contributions tax-deductible as provided by law.

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We applaud and look forward to federal designation of the Statewide No Discharge Area. 

APCC will continue to urge our legislators to support funding for operations and 

maintenance of pumpout facilities. 

Sincerely,

Ed DeWitt

Executive Director

cc: Pam DiBona, Executive Director, Massachusetts Bays Program

Robert Duncanson, Ph.D., Co-chair, Barnstable County Coastal Resources 

Committee

ED/jm