HB 217 Summary

• Department of Environmental Conservation shall regulate commercial passenger vessel discharges and environmental compliance through adoption of regulations, verification of compliance, and monitoring via a registration system.

• Prohibits discharge of wastewater from commercial passenger vessels into Alaska marine waters except under prior department authorization or when necessary to secure vessel safety or save life at sea.

• Establishes environmental compliance fees of $5 per berth per voyage for large vessels, $75 per voyage for vessels with 50-99 overnight passenger accommodations, and $175 per voyage for vessels with 100-249 accommodations; allows $1 per berth fee reduction for vessels with approved electronic monitoring systems.

• Creates wastewater infrastructure grant fund to support municipalities in establishing, upgrading, or improving wastewater treatment systems or facilities in port communities serving commercial passenger vessels, with grants evaluated based on public health protection, water quality improvement, and mitigation of environmental impact.

• Repeals provisions establishing a citizens' suit cause of action and modifies record-keeping requirements to allow department-established reporting procedures instead of requiring specific five-day reporting deadlines.