§ 1461. Aquatic nuisance inspection stations; training program
(a) The Secretary of Natural Resources shall establish a training program regarding how
to conduct inspection of vessels, motor vehicles, trailers, and other equipment for
the presence of aquatic plants, aquatic plant parts, and aquatic nuisance species.
The training program shall include online training, recorded material, training manuals,
or other material that allows a person to complete training remotely.
(b) The Secretary of Natural Resources shall establish a training program regarding how
to decontaminate vessels, motor vehicles, trailers, and other equipment to prevent
the spread of aquatic plants, aquatic plant parts, and aquatic nuisance species. The
training program shall instruct participants regarding how to address noncompliance
with the requirements of section 1454 of this title, including how:
(1) operators of the inspection station do not have authority to board a vessel unless
authorized by the vessel owner; and
(2) operators of the inspection station do not have law enforcement authority to mandate
compliance with the requirements of section 1454 of this title.
(c) In order to establish an aquatic nuisance species inspection station for the purposes
of the vessel inspection and decontamination requirements of subsection 1454(c) of this title, a lake association, municipality, or the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation
shall apply to the Secretary for approval. As a condition of approval, a representative
of a lake association or municipality shall complete the training programs established
under subsections (a) and (b) of this section. A lake association or municipality
seeking to operate an aquatic nuisance species inspection station shall designate
a representative to complete the training programs established under subsections (a)
and (b) of this section.
(d) A lake association or municipality approved to operate an aquatic nuisance species
inspection station under subsection (c) of this section shall provide persons who
will operate the aquatic nuisance species inspection station with training materials
furnished by the Secretary regarding how to conduct the inspection and decontamination
of vessels, motor vehicles, trailers, and other equipment for the presence of aquatic
plants, aquatic plant parts, and aquatic nuisance species.
(e) The Secretary may adopt rules under section 1460 of this title to implement the training requirements of this section, including an annual schedule
of available training. (Added 2017, No. 67, § 4, eff. June 8, 2017.)