Watershed Management Bureau

  New Hampshire's Clean Vessel Act Program

    Information for Marina Managers

Funding for Pumpout and Dump Stations

New or Replacement Installations

If you would like to install a new pumpout/dump station or your marina’s pumpout/dump station is beyond repair and needs to be completely replaced, the CVA Program can help.  In the latest five-year plan to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the DES CVA Program requested funds for eight replacement or new pumpout/dump stations.  These funds will be available through September 30, 2010.  The funds are available upon a first-requested, first-served basis.  The protocols for contracts, fees and life of the system as listed above apply.  All new and replacement pumpout/dump stations require a contract agreement between the marina and the state of New Hampshire.

If you anticipate that your pumpout station will need to be replaced within the next two years, call the CVA Coordinator before November 10, and your request will be submitted with the grant application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Having a clear plan for where the funding is being allocated allows for likelier approval of the CVA grant request.

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Repairs to Stations

Funds are available to marinas for repairs to your pumpout/dump station.  Even if the marina did not receive money through the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program for the installation of your system, we can still provide up to 75 percentof the cost of your repairs.  Contracts must be approved prior to the repair.

Since you will be receiving federal money through the CVA Program for your repairs, you will be required to adhere to the following protocols.

1. Contracts:  You will be required to make a contractual agreement with the state of New Hampshire. 
   • If the contract will be less than $5,000 (or cumulative costs of contracts with DES are less than $5,000), the contract will be approved by the DES Commissioner.  The agreement for these contracts can be drafted and approved in one to three months.
   • Contracts over $5,000 (or cumulative costs of contracts with DES that are above $5,000) require approval by the Governor and Executive Council.  These contracts take an average of six months to complete from the initial request until the contract is approved.
2. Fees for use:  Marinas that receive funding through the CVA Program for pumpout/dump stations (including installation or repairs) can charge their customers no more than $5 per pumpout.  The pumpout/dump station must be available to the entire boating public, not just members.
3. Life of the system:  The marina must keep the pumpout/dump station in operating condition for seven years.  If repairs are needed, you may again utilize the CVA Program funds.

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Operation and Maintenance Funding

This is a different funding opportunity than for repairs, as mentioned above.  The New Hampshire CVA program started a new program in 2006 to help offset some of the operating costs of pumpout stations around the state.  In this first year, funding was offered to all facilities with pumpout or dump stations, but funding was only provided to five facilities.  If the initial year is a success, this program will be expanded to allow for additional facilities to receive the funding.

Activities that are eligible for reimbursement are limited to:

• $250 for keeping and submitting pumpout station usage logs and written records of pumpout fees collected.
• $15 per hour (up to $250, or 16.67 hours) for time that paid marina staff spend maintaining and/or making repairs to pumpout stations.
• Payments to licensed plumbers and/or electricians for service to the pumpout station.
• Purchase of pumpout station replacement parts and equipment.
• Payments to licensed septage haulers for removal of holding tank wastes pertaining only to the pumpout station.
• Pumpout station winterization.
• Pumpout station sewage connection fees.

Eligible dates for reimbursement are April 1, 2007 through November 30, 2007.  Invoices must be returned to DES by January 31, 2008.

Review the Agreement (pdf file below) to determine if this is a program your marina would like to join.  To apply, print and fill out the Application (pdf file below), sign the Agreement (keep a copy for your records), and send it to the address on the Application.

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For More Information, Contact:

Alicia Carlson
NH Department of Environmental Services
Clean Vessel Act Program
PO Box 95; 29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-0698
watershed@des.state.nh.us