Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Before
transporting a conveyance on a highway, as defined in Section
72-1-102,
in the state, a person shall:
(a) remove all
drain plugs and similar devices that prevent drainage of raw water systems on
the conveyance; and
(b) to the
extent feasible, drain all water from live wells, bilges, ballast tanks, and
similar compartments on the conveyance.
(2)
(a)
Before launching a conveyance in a Utah waterbody, a nonresident vessel owner
shall:
(i) pay the annual aquatic invasive
species fee;
(ii) successfully
complete the aquatic invasive species education course; and
(iii) provide proof of compliance with this
Subsection to the vessel operator.
(b) The vessel operator is responsible for
verifying compliance with this Section while recreating on a Utah
waterbody.
(c) Except as provided
in Subsection (6), a person must satisfy all decontamination requirements
before launching or placing equipment or a conveyance in a waterbody if that
equipment or conveyance has been in a waterbody or water supply system subject
to decontamination requirements in the previous 30 days.
(3) The owner, operator, or possessor of any
equipment or conveyance that has been in a waterbody subject to decontamination
requirements shall inspect the interior and exterior of the equipment or
conveyance for the presence of Dreissena mussels immediately upon exiting the
waterbody and prior to leaving the take out site.
(4)
(a) If
all water in the equipment or conveyance is drained and the inspection
undertaken pursuant to Subsection (3) reveals the equipment and conveyance are
free from mussels or shelled organisms, fish, plants and mud, the equipment and
conveyance may be transported in or through the state directly from the take
out site to the location where it will be:
(i) decontaminated; or
(ii) temporarily stored and subsequently
returned to the same water body and take out site as provided in Subsection
(6).
(b) All drain plugs
and similar devices that prevent drainage of raw water systems on the
conveyance shall be removed during the transport and storage of a
conveyance.
(5)
Equipment and conveyances may not be moved from a take out site of an infested,
suspected, or detected water body, or a water body subject to a closure order
or control plan requiring decontamination, unless:
(a) the operator satisfies the requirements
of Subsection (4); or
(b) the
operator receives prior written authorization to move the equipment or
conveyance to a designated location to complete decontamination
requirements.
(6)
Decontamination is not required when a conveyance or equipment is removed from
an infested water or other water body subject to decontamination requirements,
provided the conveyance and equipment is:
(a)
inspected and drained at the take out site, and is free from attached mussels,
shelled organisms, fish, plants, and mud as required in Subsections (1) and
(2);
(b) returned to the same water
body and launched at the same take out site; and
(c) not placed in or on any other Utah water
body in the interim without first being decontaminated.
(7)
(a)
Division personnel may provide the operator of a vessel leaving an infested
water, or any water subject to a closure order under Section
R657-60-8 or control plan under Section
R657-60-9,
with an inspection certification indicating the date that vessel left the water
body.
(b) An individual who
receives a certification of inspection from the division must retain that
certification of inspection until:
(i) the
operator returns to the same body of water and receives a new certification of
inspection upon leaving the water body;
(ii) the operator completes a certification
of decontamination; or
(iii) the
operator receives a professional decontamination certificate.
