The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a new rule that forbids cruise lines from dumping sewage off the coast of California. The proposal covers nearly all of California's shoreline and applies to passenger ships larger than 300 tons and to all other oceangoing vessels larger than 300 tons that have sufficient sewage holding tank capacity.
A statement by the EPA claims the ban would stop 20 million gallons of sewage from entering California coastal waters.
A spokesperson for the Cruise Lines International Association, which represent the world's major cruise lines including Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, tells USA TODAY its members as a policy never release sewage within three miles of coastal waters. Moreover, says the association's Lanie Fagan, a California state law already bans the practice.
The current laws of international maritime law do allow for the discharge of untreated sewage by ships at least 12 miles from a shoreline.
This new rule will allow for 60 days of comment before going for a vote.
