Alabama Boaters Environmental Protection & Responsibility 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal limit of oil content in bilge water that may be discharged overboard in US coastal waters?
- 15 parts per million (ppm) (Correct answer)
- 50 parts per million (ppm)
- 100 parts per million (ppm)
- There is no legal discharge of bilge water allowed
Correct answer: 15 parts per million (ppm)
MARPOL regulations limit overboard discharge of bilge water to 15 ppm oil content, and only outside 3 nautical miles.
Question 2: What is the purpose of absorbent bilge pads on a recreational boat?
- To absorb oil and fuel in the bilge so pollutants aren't pumped overboard (Correct answer)
- To muffle engine noise and reduce vibration
- To provide emergency flotation if the hull is breached
- To filter salt from bilge water before discharge
Correct answer: To absorb oil and fuel in the bilge so pollutants aren't pumped overboard
Absorbent bilge pads soak up petroleum products in the bilge, preventing oil-contaminated water from being pumped overboard.
Question 3: When fueling a boat, which practice best prevents fuel spills into the water?
- Fill the tank slowly, use an absorbent collar on the fill nozzle, and don't top off the tank (Correct answer)
- Fill to 100% capacity to avoid repeatedly refueling
- Fuel the boat while it is still on the trailer away from the water
- Only use deck-fill openings without an absorbent rag underneath
Correct answer: Fill the tank slowly, use an absorbent collar on the fill nozzle, and don't top off the tank
Slow filling, using an absorbent collar, and leaving room for fuel expansion prevents spills and overflow into the water.
Question 4: What is a 'gray water' discharge, and how is it regulated on recreational vessels?
- Wastewater from sinks and showers; it is generally allowed overboard but prohibited in NDZs (Correct answer)
- Treated sewage from certified MSD systems; always prohibited
- Runoff from deck washing with detergent; always prohibited in any US water
- Bilge water mixed with engine coolant; subject to oil discharge rules
Correct answer: Wastewater from sinks and showers; it is generally allowed overboard but prohibited in NDZs
Gray water from sinks and showers is generally not regulated under federal sewage rules, but is prohibited in official No Discharge Zones.
Question 5: How far from shore must a boater be to legally dump garbage (excluding plastics) into the Gulf of Mexico?
- At least 12 nautical miles from shore (Correct answer)
- At least 3 nautical miles from shore
- At least 25 nautical miles from shore
- Garbage of any kind can never be dumped at sea
Correct answer: At least 12 nautical miles from shore
Under MARPOL Annex V, certain food waste may be discharged 12+ nm from shore; most other garbage requires 25+ nm.
Question 6: What is the environmental significance of Alabama's Mobile Bay as it relates to boating?
- It contains critical estuarine habitat and is subject to stricter environmental regulations due to its ecological sensitivity (Correct answer)
- It is an open ocean area with relaxed discharge rules because of water volume
- It is classified as an industrial waterway exempt from recreational boating environmental rules
- Its warm water means pollutants break down faster, so rules are less strict
Correct answer: It contains critical estuarine habitat and is subject to stricter environmental regulations due to its ecological sensitivity
Mobile Bay is a major estuary and ecological hotspot requiring boaters to follow strict environmental practices to protect its sensitive habitats.
Question 7: What is a responsible action a boater should take after catching and cleaning fish on the water?
- Return fish scraps to the water away from swimming areas, marinas, and manatee zones (Correct answer)
- Bag all fish waste and take it to a landfill regardless of location
- Dump fish scraps in marina slip areas where other fish will consume them
- Bury fish waste on shore near the boat ramp
Correct answer: Return fish scraps to the water away from swimming areas, marinas, and manatee zones
Fish scraps can be returned to open water away from sensitive areas, where they naturally recycle as part of the food chain.
Alabama Boaters Environmental Protection & Responsibility 4
What is the legal limit of oil content in bilge water that may be discharged overboard in US coastal waters?