WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman Bruce Poliquin announced that the state of Maine will receive $355,930 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Clean Vessel Act grant program.

“As a coastal state, Maine has a rich history of using the waters for boating, fishing, lobstering and everything in between,” said Congressman Poliquin. “It’s important that we keep our waters clean and prestigious as Mainers and tourists use these waters every day, especially during the Summer. This grant will go a long way in keeping our waters crystal clear and protecting our special way of life.”

According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife release, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resource Regulation, plans to use grant funds to install or upgrade pumpout stations and provide operation and maintenance stipends to pumpout vessels and stationary facilities. The State also proposes to review and update the Education and Outreach Plan as well as develop/distribute educational materials to boaters and boating facilities.

“With the award of this grant, the DEP will have received almost $4.4 million in grant funds through the Clean Vessel Act Program since 2000. Using those funds, the DEP has quadrupled the number of boat holding tank pumpout stations along the Maine coast and on large lakes working cooperatively with the grant recipients. Over 3 million dollars of the funds have been poured directly into helping Maine businesses, municipalities, and non-profits, maintain their pumpout stations in good working order,” said Maine Pumpout Grant Program Manager, Pam Parker. “Included in the funding was the purchase and operation of 6 pumpout vessels that go to boats needing service, and 5 self-serve pumpout floats. The floats were built right in Maine.

“In this grant period, we hope to site pumpout systems in some of the remote, spectacular, and popular harbors, protecting water quality and providing a needed service to boaters. The DEP is very pleased to continue this very successful and popular program.”