PUBLISHED

N.C.G.S. § 77-129

No discharge of treated or untreated sewage in coastal waters; duty of marina owner or operator to report unlawful discharge.

Effective date: 2026-08-08
Last verified: 2026-08-09
Source: official source
Revision history: view all versions

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(a) No person shall discharge treated or untreated sewage into coastal waters, including effluent produced or held by any type of marine sanitation device into coastal waters. The owner or operator of a vessel with a marine sanitation device shall keep the overboard waste discharge valves of the device secure by acceptable methods set forth under 33 C.F.R. § 159.7(b) so as to prevent the discharge of treated or untreated sewage, except when lawfully discharging sewage at a pumpout facility. A violation of this section is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor and also may be assessed a civil penalty pursuant to G.S. 77-130. (b) If the owner or operator of a large vessel marina knows that the owner or operator of any vessel docked or moored at the marina knowingly and unlawfully discharged sewage, including effluent produced or held by a marine sanitation device, in coastal waters in violation of this section, then the marina owner or operator shall report the unlawful discharge to the appropriate law enforcement agency. A marina owner or operator who fails to report an unlawful discharge pursuant to this subsection may be assessed a civil penalty pursuant to G.S. 77-130. (2009-345, s. 1; 2010-180, s. 21(b).)