Please update your links! Our new website url is http://masglp.olemiss.edu . This old website will soon cease to exist!

2002 Alabama Legislative Update

Amanda M. Beard, 3L and Magnolia Bravo, M.S., J.D.

The following is a summary of coastal, wildlife, marine, and water resources related
legislation enacted by the Alabama Legislature during the 2002 session.

2002 Alabama Laws 59. (S.B. 29)    Approved January 31, 2002. Effective October 1, 2003.

Provides for the regulation of recreational vessel or residential boat sewage discharges and marine sanitation devices, by prohibiting the discharge of untreated sewage into the State of Alabama's waters and authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to adopt rules and regulations to control and regulate the discharge of sewage from recreational vessels and residential boats. Every recreational vessel or residential boat with a marine sanitation device installed onboard and registered with the State of Alabama must be inspected annually. In addition, this legislation created a public education program designed to inform the public of the detrimental consequences of depositing untreated sewage, trash, litter and other materials into the waters of the state and the penalties for such actions. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will conduct the program.

2002 Alabama Laws 342. (H.B. 358)    Approved April 17, 2002. Effective April 17, 2002.

Modifies § 33-4-48 of the Alabama Code relating to the fees of bar pilots in the Mobile Bay and Harbor. Bar pilots must now be paid a flat fee of $27 per draft foot for any ship or vessel piloted within the Bay or Harbor plus between $.03 and $.0375 per ton for every vessel crossing the outer bar of Mobile Bay.

2002 Alabama Laws 357. (H.B. 182)    Approved April 17, 2002. Effective October 1, 2002.

Appropriates funds for the Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association.

2002 Alabama Laws 373. (H.B. 185)    Approved April 17, 2002. Effective October 1, 2002.

Appropriates funds for the Tri-Rivers Waterway Development Authority, which is a non-profit organization promoting the effective development, utilization, and maintenance of the Apalachicola-Chatahoochee-Flint River Basin.

2002 Alabama Laws 374. (H.B. 187)    Approved April 17, 2002. Effective October 1, 2002.

Appropriates funds for the Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation for waste reduction, pollution prevention and technology transfer education services.

2002 Alabama Laws 429. (H.B. 551)    Approved April 18, 2002. Effective April 18, 2002.

Amends § 9-17-24 to require notice to and approval by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor prior to the fracture of any coal group. A fee must also be paid to the Supervisor prior to such action.

2002 Alabama Laws 495. (H.B. 493)    Approved April 26, 2002. Effective April 26, 2002.

Amends §§ 22-35-1, 22-35-3, 22-35-4, 22-35-5, and 22-35-8 of the Alabama Code to clarify the role of the Alabama Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Trust Fund in the event of a release.

2002 Alabama Laws 505. (S.B. 271)    Approved April 26, 2002. Effective July 1, 2002.

Enacts the Farm Animal, Crop, and Research Facilities Protection Act to prohibit unauthorized alteration, possession or destruction of agriculturally-related animals or crops or educational or scientific research related to animals and crops.

2002 Alabama Laws 507. (H.B. 166)    Approved April 26, 2002. Effective October 1, 2002.

Appropriates funds for the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center and the North Alabama Science Center through the State Council on the Arts, to support programs promoting the arts and cultural resources.

2002 Alabama Laws 510. (S.B. 235)    Approved April 26, 2002. Effective July 1, 2002.

Amends § 9-2-13 to authorize the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources to prohibit the importation of certain animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish if that importation would not be in the best interests of the state. This section does not apply to birds, animals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish used for display purposes in carnivals, zoos, circuses, or other like shows where there is not a likelihood of escape or release in the state.

2002 Alabama Laws 521. (H.B. 456)    Approved April 26, 2002. Effective April 26, 2002.

Amends §§ 34-21A-2 and 34-21A-12 of the Alabama Code to provide further regulation of onsite sewage wastewater systems. The definition of "onsite wastewater system" was amended to include all systems of sewage piping, regardless of where they originate and a fourth type of sewage servicing license was added, a pumper license, for those involved in pumping, cleaning, or maintenance of onsite wastewater systems.

University of Mississippi