38 M.R.S. § 423
This is the official text of 38 M.R.S. § 423, part of Maine’s M.R.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Maine, published by the state as "M.R.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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38 §423. Discharge of waste from watercraft
Official statutory text
1. Discharge from watercraft prohibited. A person, firm, corporation or other legal entity may not discharge, spill or permit to be discharged sewage, septic fluids, garbage or other pollutants from watercraft: A. Into inland waters of the State; [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).] B. On the ice of inland waters of the State; or [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).] C. On the banks of inland waters of the State in a manner that the pollutants may fall or be washed into the waters or in a manner in which the drainage from the banks may flow into the waters. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).] [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).]
2. Holding tank required. A person, firm, corporation or other legal entity may not operate upon the inland waters of the State a watercraft that has a permanently installed sanitary waste disposal system if it does not have securely affixed to the interior discharge opening of the sanitary waste disposal system a holding tank or suitable container for holding sanitary waste material so as to prevent its discharge or drainage into the inland waters of the State. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).]
3. Watercraft defined. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF); MRSA T. 38 §423, sub-§3 (RP).]
4. Watercraft defined. For the purposes of this section, "watercraft" has the same meaning as in Title 12, section 13001, subsection 28 . [PL 2025, c. 378, §11 (AMD).]
5. Penalty. Notwithstanding section 349, subsection 2 , a person who is charged with a civil violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty, payable to the State, of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000 for each day of that violation. [PL 2017, c. 49, §1 (NEW).]
2. Holding tank required. A person, firm, corporation or other legal entity may not operate upon the inland waters of the State a watercraft that has a permanently installed sanitary waste disposal system if it does not have securely affixed to the interior discharge opening of the sanitary waste disposal system a holding tank or suitable container for holding sanitary waste material so as to prevent its discharge or drainage into the inland waters of the State. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF).]
3. Watercraft defined. [PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §14 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. B, §15 (AFF); MRSA T. 38 §423, sub-§3 (RP).]
4. Watercraft defined. For the purposes of this section, "watercraft" has the same meaning as in Title 12, section 13001, subsection 28 . [PL 2025, c. 378, §11 (AMD).]
5. Penalty. Notwithstanding section 349, subsection 2 , a person who is charged with a civil violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty, payable to the State, of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000 for each day of that violation. [PL 2017, c. 49, §1 (NEW).]
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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