| Nautical Know How - Basic Boating Safety Certification Course Chapter IV - Legal Requirements  Section 2f - Pollution |
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Pollution Regulations The Refuse Act of 1899 prohibits throwing, discharging or depositing any refuse matter of any kind (including trash, garbage, oil and other liquid pollutants) into the waters of the United States. Oil and Hazardous Substances The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances which may be harmful into U.S. navigable water. Vessels 26 feet in length and over must display a placard at least 5 by 8 inches, made of durable material, fixed in a conspicuous place in the machinery spaces, or at the bilge pump control station, stating the following.
Regulations issued under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act require all vessels with propulsion machinery to have a capacity to retain oily mixtures on board. A fixed or portable means to discharge oily waste to a reception facility is required. A bucket or bailer is suitable as a portable means of discharging oily waste on recreational vessels. No person may intentionally drain oil or oily waste from any source into the bilge of any vessel. You must immediately notify the U.S. Coast Guard if your vessel discharges oil or hazardous substances in the water. Call toll-free 800-424-8802 (In Washington, D.C. (202) 267-2675). Report the following information:
Regulations Controlling Disposal of Garbage The U.S. Coast Guard regulations prohibit dumping of plastic refuse, and garbage mixed with plastic, into any waters. These restrictions apply to all U.S. vessels where ever they operate (except waters under the exclusive jurisdiction of a State), and any foreign vessels operating in U.S. waters out to and including the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 miles).
Do not dispose of plastic in any waters. Learn and conform to the regulations regarding disposal of other garbage. For instance, it is illegal within three nautical miles to operate a garbage disposal in a galley sink if it discharges that garbage - even ground up garbage. To make it easier to comply, you might want to separate garbage according to the disposal limitations. State and local regulations may further restrict the disposal of garbage. Make sure you know the regulations covering the waters upon which you will be boating. SOS Placard Boats 26 feet in length and over must display a Save Our Seas Placard which outlines the rules of dumping waste offshore. These placards may be purchased from local marinas, boat dealers, and marine equipment suppliers. Waste Management Plans U.S. recreational boats 40 feet or more in length and equipped with a galley and berthing are required to carry a Waste Management Plan if the vessel operates, or is certified to operate, beyond 3 nautical miles from shore. (For more optional information on Waste Management.) Recreational boats are not required to be equipped with a toilet. However, the Clean Water Act requires that if a toilet is installed, it must be equipped with an operable Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) that is certified by the Coast Guard. Installed toilets that are not equipped with an MSD, and that discharge raw sewage directly over the side, are illegal. Portable toilets or "porta-potties" are not considered installed toilets and are not subject to the MSD regulations. But they are subject to disposal regulations which prohibit the disposal of raw sewage within territorial waters (3 mile limit), the Great Lakes, or navigable rivers. (If you're interested in MSDs - More on MSDs) A boat can be equipped with any type of MSD permitted under the regulations. However, whenever a vessel equipped with a Type I or Type II MSD (these types discharge treated sewage) is operating in an area of water that has been declared a No Discharge Zone, the MSD cannot be used and must be secured to prevent discharge. No Discharge Zones are areas of water that require greater environmental protection and where even the discharge of treated sewage could be harmful. When operating in a No Discharge Zone, a Type I or Type II MSD must be secured in some way to prevent discharge. Closing the seacock and padlocking, using a non-releasable wire-tie, or removing the seacock handle would be sufficient. Locking the door to the head with a padlock or a door handle key lock is another acceptable method of securing the MSD while in a No Discharge Zone. Generally, all freshwater lakes (and similar freshwater impoundments or reservoirs that have no navigable connections with other bodies of water), and rivers not capable of interstate vessel traffic, are by definition considered No Discharge Zones. In addition, States may (with the specific approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) establish No Discharge Zones in other waters within the State. Currently, the following States have established such EPA-approved No Discharge Zones:
Others are planning to follow suit. Boaters should check with their State Boating Law authority for more specific information on the location and limits of No Discharge Zones. Discharge of Raw Sewage It is illegal to discharge raw sewage from a vessel in territorial waters (within the 3 mile limit), the Great Lakes, and navigable rivers. However, a valve may be installed on any MSD to provide for the direct discharge of raw sewage when the vessel is outside U.S. territorial waters. The valve must be secured in a closed position while operating in U.S. waters. As described under NO DISCHARGE ZONES, use of a padlock, nonreleasable wire-tie, or the removal of the valve handle would be considered adequate securing of the device. The method chosen must be one that presents a physical barrier to the use of the valve. NOTE: The boundaries of U.S. territorial waters are marked on some nautical charts. Changes to the boundaries are published in Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners. Special MSD Rules May Affect Houseboats Your Responsibilities If you observe any boat not complying with these regulations regarding water pollution, report it to the nearest Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO). To locate the MSO near you, call the toll free Coast Guard Hotline -- 1-800-368 5647. |
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