Environmental Protection & Responsibility Flashcards

What is the required distance from shore when discharging untreated sewage in Alabama inland waters?

Answer: Discharge is never permitted in inland waters

Federal law prohibits discharging untreated sewage in all inland waters and lakes, regardless of distance from shore.

Which type of marine toilet system is legal for use on Alabama waters?

Answer: A Type I Marine Sanitation Device (MSD)

A Coast Guard-certified Type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is required on vessels with installed toilets.

What should a boater do if they accidentally spill fuel into the water?

Answer: Report the spill to the National Response Center and try to contain it

All fuel spills must be reported to the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802) and boaters must take reasonable steps to contain the spill.

What is 'turbidity' in the context of boating environmental impact?

Answer: Cloudiness or murkiness of water caused by suspended particles stirred up by boat wakes

Turbidity refers to water cloudiness from suspended sediment stirred up by propellers and wakes, which harms aquatic life.

Which of the following materials is considered most harmful to manatees in Alabama coastal waters?

Answer: Discarded fishing monofilament line and nets

Monofilament fishing line can entangle manatees' flippers and cause severe injury or death.

What is the primary reason boaters should use pump-out stations instead of overboard discharge?

Answer: Sewage contains nutrients and pathogens that deplete oxygen and contaminate shellfish beds

Sewage adds nitrogen and pathogens to water, causing algae blooms, oxygen depletion, and closing shellfish harvesting areas.

Under Alabama and federal law, what is the penalty category for illegally dumping plastics into navigable waters?

Answer: A federal criminal offense with significant fines

Dumping plastics into navigable waters violates the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and carries federal criminal penalties.