PCOC Environmental Protection and Pollution Prevention Flashcards

Under the Clean Water Act, it is illegal to discharge oil or hazardous substances into US navigable waters unless the discharge is what?

Answer: Permitted by a valid NPDES permit

Discharging oil or hazardous substances into US navigable waters without a valid NPDES permit is illegal under the Clean Water Act.

What must a recreational vessel operator do immediately upon discovering an oil spill from their vessel?

Answer: Report the spill to the US Coast Guard National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802

Any oil spill that causes a visible sheen must be reported immediately to the US Coast Guard National Response Center.

Which federal regulation prohibits the discharge of untreated sewage from recreational vessels in US inland waters?

Answer: The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) Section 312

Clean Water Act Section 312 governs vessel sewage discharge and generally prohibits untreated sewage discharge in US inland and coastal waters.

A 'No Discharge Zone' (NDZ) for vessel sewage means that operators must:

Answer: Not discharge any sewage, treated or untreated, into designated waters

In a No Discharge Zone, operators are prohibited from discharging any sewage — treated or untreated — and must retain waste onboard or pump out at a facility.

Which type of Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is required on vessels operating in a No Discharge Zone?

Answer: Type III MSD (holding tank — no discharge)

In a No Discharge Zone, a Type III MSD (holding tank) is required because it retains all sewage for pump-out ashore with zero discharge.

MARPOL Annex V regulations prohibit the discharge of what material anywhere in US navigable waters?

Answer: All plastics, regardless of size or distance from shore

MARPOL Annex V and US law prohibit the discharge of any plastic material anywhere in navigable waters, regardless of distance from shore.