Chapter 1Findings and Declarations

Section § 72400

Explanation

This section explains that California houses several important marine sanctuaries that contain some of the world's most diverse marine life. The law emphasizes the need to protect these ecosystems from pollution.

Specifically, it prohibits large passenger and oceangoing ships from discharging harmful substances, such as hazardous waste, sewage sludge, and oily water, into these marine areas. This is crucial for safeguarding both public health and the environment.

The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 72400(a) California is home to four of the 13 national marine sanctuaries. These areas support some of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems and are home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fish, invertebrates, and plants.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 72400(b) The protection and enhancement of the quality of the marine waters of the state and marine sanctuaries, and the protection of public health and the environment, requires that the release from large passenger vessels and oceangoing ships of hazardous waste, other waste, sewage sludge, and oily bilgewater, into the marine waters of the state and marine sanctuaries, and the release of graywater by large passenger ships into the marine waters of the state, should be prohibited.
marine ecosystems marine sanctuaries hazardous waste prohibition pollution prevention large passenger vessels oceangoing ships sewage sludge oily bilgewater graywater discharge marine waters protection environmental protection public health ecosystem diversity marine life conservation waste discharge prohibition
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 764, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2005, Ch. 588, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2006.)

Section § 72401

Explanation

This law states that California is committed to keeping its marine waters clean. It forbids large passenger vessels and oceangoing ships from releasing graywater, sewage, hazardous waste, sewage sludge, or oily bilgewater into state waters or marine sanctuaries.

Since March 2012, according to a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, all sewage discharges from these vessels were banned along California's 1,624-mile coastline, forming the nation's largest No Discharge Zone.

The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
(a)CA Public Resources Code § 72401(a) To protect and enhance the quality of the marine waters of the state all of the following should be prohibited:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 72401(a)(1) The release of graywater or sewage by a large passenger vessel into the marine waters of the state or a marine sanctuary.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 72401(a)(2) The release of hazardous waste, other waste, sewage sludge, or oily bilgewater by a large passenger vessel or oceangoing ship into the marine waters of the state or a marine sanctuary.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 72401(a)(3) The release of graywater or sewage by an oceangoing ship into the marine waters of the state or a marine sanctuary.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 72401(b) In response to an application from the State of California pursuant to this division, beginning March 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency prohibited the discharge of all sewage from large passenger vessels and large oceangoing ships, and created a No Discharge Zone along California’s 1,624-mile coastline from Mexico to Oregon and surrounding islands, the largest No Discharge Zone in the nation.
marine protection large passenger vessel regulations waste discharge prohibition oceangoing ship compliance graywater release ban sewage release ban hazardous waste disposal No Discharge Zone EPA regulations California coastline protection marine sanctuary regulation oily bilgewater prohibition vessel waste management marine water quality environmental protection water laws
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 279, Sec. 1. (SB 1360) Effective January 1, 2013.)