Apparently cruise ships and other large commercial vessels will no longer be allowed to dump sewage within three miles of the California coasts under a new federal rule. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, this new rule will take effect early next year and adds “teeth” to the existing state law. This is a law that already bans ships from dumping runoff from their showers or sinks.

Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Environmental Protection Agency, said that cruise ships and other vessels dump 20 million gallons of sewage off California’s coast each year. This ends up fouling beaches and bays.

Many cruise ships can hold up to 6,000 people. Thus, that is a lot of sewage that can be dumped from just one vessel. The refuse ends up being jettisoned into the sea. If close enough to the shore, it can affect water quality and, of course, beaches.

The executive vice president of Cruise Lines International Association, Michael Crye, said that its members already follow discharge regulations exceeding the new standards. The group only represents about 25 companies, however. This does include Disney Cruise Lines and Carnival.

Crye went on to say that their vessels have been following industry wide practices and California state law. They do not, in any way, discharge within three miles of the California coast. They have been following that for a number of years now.

However, this new law does not just take on cruise liners. It also takes on large container ships that bring goods into port. This applies to all vessels of 300 gross tons or more.