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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="8-741" title_number="8" title_name="Waters" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="State Boat Act">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For the purposes of this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Marine sanitation device” means any equipment on board a vessel which is designed to receive, retain, treat or discharge sewage and any process to treat sewage on board.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Marine sanitation device” includes:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Type I marine sanitation device, which produces an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 milliliters and no visible floating solids;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Type II marine sanitation device, which produces an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Type III marine sanitation device, which is certified to a no-discharge standard, including recirculating and incinerating marine sanitation devices and holding tanks.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Sewage” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Human body wastes; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to retain body waste.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Y valve” means a device capable of diverting the flow of marine sewage so that a vessel’s marine sanitation device is bypassed and raw sewage is discharged directly into the water.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The following vessels equipped with an installed toilet shall be equipped with an operable marine sanitation device:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A vessel 65 feet in length and under shall have a Type I, II, or III marine sanitation device; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A vessel over 65 feet in length shall have a Type II or III marine sanitation device.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A Type I or Type II marine sanitation device shall have a certification label affixed that at a minimum shows:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The name of the manufacturer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The name and model number of the device;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The month and year of manufacture;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The marine sanitation device type;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>A certification number; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>A certification statement.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A Type III marine sanitation device is automatically certified, and requires no label, provided it stores sewage and flushwater only, at ambient air temperature and pressure.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>While a vessel with an installed toilet is on Maryland waters, the operator shall insure that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>All pathways for overboard discharge of vessel sewage from any vessel with a Type III marine sanitation device are blocked or secured in such a way as to prevent any accidental or intentional vessel sewage discharge, by disconnecting or physically blocking those onboard sewage lines or hull fittings which would allow for overboard vessel sewage discharge; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Any installed in-line Y valve shall be secured to prevent the overboard discharge of sewage from any vessel utilizing a Type III marine sanitation device, by bypassing, locking, securing, or disabling the valve using a padlock or nonreusable wire tie wrap, or by removal of the valve handle, or by any other method in accordance with federal regulations and standards or as approved or required by the Department.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The chosen compliance method under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall totally eliminate the possibility of overboard vessel sewage discharge while in waters of the State. The method chosen shall present a physical barrier to the use of the Y valve, whether accidental or intentional, so that use of the valve cannot occur without the knowledge of the operator of the vessel.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>For any vessel offered as a noncaptained charter, the leasing entity shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Ensure that the vessel complies with this section when presented to the lessor; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Include in the lease agreement, signed by the leasing party, a paragraph outlining the operator’s responsibilities under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A person who violates a provision of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,000.</text>
  </level>
</section>
