1625-0058 Stat/Authority

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (up to date as of 2/13/2025)
Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (Feb. 13, 2025)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 33 —Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter I —Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Subchapter O —Pollution
Part 151 —Vessels Carrying Oil, Noxious Liquid Substances, Garbage, Municipal or Commercial
Waste, and Ballast Water
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1902, 1903, 1908; 46 U.S.C. 6101; 46 U.S.C. 70034; Pub. L. 104-227, 110 Stat. 3034; sec. 623, Pub. L.
108-293, 118 Stat. 1063; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No.
01.3.

Subpart B Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste
§ 151.1000 Purpose.
§ 151.1003 Applicability.
§ 151.1006 Definitions.
§ 151.1009 Transportation of municipal or commercial waste.
§ 151.1012 Applying for a conditional permit.
§ 151.1015 Issuing or denying the issuance of a conditional permit.
§ 151.1018 Withdrawal of a conditional permit.
§ 151.1021 Appeals.
§ 151.1024 Display of number.
Subpart B—Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2602; 49 CFR 1.46.
Source: CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

§ 151.1000 Purpose.
The purpose of this subpart is to implement the permit provisions of the Shore Protection Act of 1988, (33 U.S.C.
2601 et seq.).
[CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989, as amended by USCG-2001-9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001]

§ 151.1003 Applicability.
(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, this subpart applies to each vessel whose purpose is
the transportation of municipal or commercial waste in coastal waters.
(b) This subpart does not apply to public vessels.

§ 151.1006 Definitions.
As used in this subpart—
33 CFR 151.1006 (enhanced display)

page 1 of 5

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (up to date as of 2/13/2025)
Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste

33 CFR 151.1006 “Coastal waters”

Coastal waters means—
(1) The territorial sea of the United States;
(2) The Great Lakes and their connecting waters;
(3) The marine and estuarine waters of the United States up to the head of tidal influence; and
(4) The Exclusive Economic Zone as established by Presidential Proclamation Number 5030, dated
March 10, 1983.

Note: The Exclusive Economic Zone extends from the baseline of the territorial sea of the United
States seaward 200 miles.
Municipal and commercial waste means solid waste as defined in section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6903) except—
(1) Solid waste identified and listed under section 3001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C.
6921);
(2) Waste generated by a vessel during normal operations;
(3) Debris solely from construction activities;
(4) Sewage sludge subject to regulation under title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries
Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); and
(5) Dredge or fill material subject to regulation under title I of the Marine Protection, Research and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1251 et seq.), or the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
Public vessel means a vessel that—
(1) Is owned, or demise chartered, and operated by the United States Government or a government of a
foreign country; and
(2) Is not engaged in commercial service.
Vessel means every description of watercraft or other artifical contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a
means of transportation on water.
[CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989, as amended by USCG-2001-9286, 66 FR 33641, June 25, 2001]

§ 151.1009 Transportation of municipal or commercial waste.
A vessel may not transport municipal or commercial waste in coastal waters without—
(a) A conditional permit to transport municpal or commercial waste issued under this subpart; and
(b) Displaying a number in accordance with § 151.1024.
[CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989; CGD 89-014, 54 FR 24078, June 5, 1989]

33 CFR 151.1009(b) (enhanced display)

page 2 of 5

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (up to date as of 2/13/2025)
Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste

33 CFR 151.1012

§ 151.1012 Applying for a conditional permit.
(a) The owner or operator of each vessel to which this subpart applies shall apply by letter for a conditional
permit required by § 151.1009. Applications must be submitted to Commandant (CG-CVC-1), Attn:
Domestic Vessels Division, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20593-7501 and include the following:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the vessel owner and operator.
(2) The vessel's name and official number, if any.
(3) The vessel's area of operation.
(4) The vessel's transport capacity.
(5) A history of the types of cargo transported by the vessel during the previous year, including
identifying the type of municipal or commercial waste transported as—
(i)

Municipal waste;

(ii) Commercial waste;
(iii) Medical waste; or
(iv) Waste of another character.
(6) The types of cargo to be transported by the vessel during the effective period of the conditional
permit, including identifying the type of municipal or commercial waste as it is identified in
paragraphs (a)(5)(i) through (iv) of this section.
(7) A statement of whether the application for a conditional permit is for a single voyage, a short term
operation or a continuing operation. If the application is for a single voyage or a short term
operation, the statement must include the duration of the voyage or operation.
(8) An acknowledgment that certifies as to the truthfulness and accuracy of the information provided.
(b) The owner or operator under paragraph (a) of this section shall provide any additional information the
Coast Guard may require.
[CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33665, June 28, 1996; USCG-2008-0179, 73 FR
35014, June 19, 2008; USCG-2010-0351, 75 FR 36284, June 25, 2010; USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38435, July 7, 2014]

§ 151.1015 Issuing or denying the issuance of a conditional permit.
(a) After reviewing the application made under § 151.1012, the Coast Guard either—
(1) Issues the conditional permit for a vessel under this section; or
(2) Denies the issuance of the conditional permit to the vessel in accordance with paragraph (c) of this
section. On denying the issuance of the permit, the Coast Guard notifies the applicant of the—
(i)

Denial and the reason for the denial; and

(ii) Procedures under § 151.1021 for appealing the denial.
(b) Each conditional permit issued under this section is effective—

33 CFR 151.1015 (enhanced display)

page 3 of 5

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (up to date as of 2/13/2025)
Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste

33 CFR 151.1018

(1) On the date it is issued; and
(2) Until the expiration date stated on the conditional permit unless it is—
(i)

Withdrawn under § 151.1018;

(ii) Terminated because—
(A) The vessel is sold; or
(B) This subpart no longer applies to the vessel.
(c) The Coast Guard may deny the issuance of a conditional permit if—
(i)

The application does not contain the information required under § 151.1012; or

(ii) There is reason to believe that the information contained on the application is not true and
correct.

§ 151.1018 Withdrawal of a conditional permit.
(a) The Coast Guard may withdraw a conditional permit if the Administrator of the EPA requests withdrawal
because the Administrator has determined that the owner or operator of the vessel has a record or a
pattern of serious violations of—
(1) Subtitle A of the Shore Protection Act of 1988 (33 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.);
(2) The Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.);
(3) The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.);
(4) The Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); or
(5) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
(b) Upon reaching a determination to withdraw a conditional permit, the Coast Guard notifies the owner or
operator of—
(1) The withdrawal and the reason for the withdrawal;
(2) The procedures for appealing the withdrawal.
(c) After receiving the notice under paragraph (b) of this section, the owner or operator shall ensure that—
(1) The vessel immediately ceases transporting municipal or commercial waste and the marking
required by § 151.1024 is removed; and
(2) The conditional permit is returned to the Coast Guard within 5 days after receiving the notice.

§ 151.1021 Appeals.
(a) Any person directly affected by an action taken under this subpart may request reconsideration by the
Coast Guard officer responsible for that action.
(b) The person affected who is not satisfied with a ruling after having it reconsidered under paragraph (a) of
this section may—

33 CFR 151.1021(b) (enhanced display)

page 4 of 5

33 CFR Part 151 Subpart B (up to date as of 2/13/2025)
Transportation of Municipal and Commercial Waste

33 CFR 151.1021(b)(1)

(1) Appeal that ruling in writing within 30 days after the ruling to the Commandant (CG-5P), Attn:
Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King
Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7501; and
(2) Supply supporting documentation and evidence that the appellant wishes to have considered.
(c) After reviewing the appeal submitted under paragraph (b) of this section, the Assistant Commandant for
Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection issues a ruling which is final agency action.
(d) If the delay in presenting a written appeal has an adverse impact on the operations of the appellent, the
appeal under paragraph (b) of this section—
(1) May be presented orally; and
(2) Must be submitted in writing within five days after the oral presentation—
(i)

With the basis for the appeal and a summary of the material presented orally; and

(ii) To the same Coast Guard official who heard the oral presentation.
[CGD 89-014, 54 FR 22548, May 24, 1989, as amended by CGD 96-026, 61 FR 33665, June 28, 1996; CGD 97-023, 62 FR 33363,
June 19, 1997; USCG-2002-12471, 67 FR 41332, June 18, 2002; USCG-2008-0179, 73 FR 35014, June 19, 2008; USCG-2010-0351,
75 FR 36284, June 25, 2010; USCG-2014-0410, 79 FR 38435, July 7, 2014; USCG-2018-0874, 84 FR 30879, June 28, 2019]

§ 151.1024 Display of number.
(a) The owner or operator of each vessel under this subpart must ensure that the vessel number stated on
the conditional permit issued under § 151.1015 is displayed so that it—
(1) Is clearly legible;
(2) Has a contrasting background;
(3) Is readily visible from either side of the vessel; and
(4) Is in block figures that are at least 18 inches in height.
(b) No person may tamper with or falsify a number required under this section.

33 CFR 151.1024(b) (enhanced display)

page 5 of 5