California Clean Coast Act

The State of California enacted the Clean Coast Act. This law, which comes into effect on January 1, 2006, will prohibit oceangoing ships from conducting onboard incineration while operating within three miles of the California coast. The law will also prohibit oceangoing ships from releasing hazardous waste, other waste, sewage sludge, and oily bilgewater into marine waters of the state. If there is a release of such material from an oceangoing ship into marine waters of the state, the owner or operator must, within 24 hours, notify the State Water Resources Control Board. Upon the departure of an oceangoing ship from its first port or place of call in California in 2006, the master, owner, or operator must maintain on board selected information regarding the ship, its graywater and blackwater systems, and California port of call information. This same information must be communicated to the State Lands Commission. The term “oceangoing ship” means a private, commercial, government, or military vessel of 300 gross registered tons or more calling on California ports or places. Senate Bill No. 771 (HK Law)