§ 77-129.  No discharge of treated or untreated sewage in coastal waters; duty of marina owner or operator to report unlawful discharge.

(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).)