AK SB156

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 wastewater discharge from commercial passenger vessels into state marine waters except under prior department authorization or in emergencies to ensure vessel safety or save life at sea.

Vessel owners/operators must maintain daily records of discharges, provide hourly GPS location reports, collect routine wastewater samples, and allow department inspections of treatment and air emission systems.

Environmental compliance fee of $5 per lower berth per voyage; small vessels (50-99 passengers) pay $75 per voyage, vessels with 100-249 passengers pay $175 per voyage; fee reduced by $1 per berth for vessels with approved electronic monitoring systems.

Establishes wastewater infrastructure grant fund for municipalities to establish, upgrade, or improve wastewater treatment systems in port communities serving commercial passenger vessels, with grants evaluated on criteria including public health protection, water quality improvement, and environmental impact mitigation.