Resource Protection

Law Enforcement

Enforcement of boating laws and regulations, along with providing for safety on Pennsylvania waters, is the responsibility of the PFBC’s Waterways Conservation Officers. Some of the waters of the state are also patrolled by other agencies such as the Bureau of State Parks, United States Army Corps of Engineers, USCG and the National Park Service.

Boaters approached by a patrol boat with its blue light flashing must reduce speed to slow, no-wake and yield the right of way to the patrol boat. The operator shall stop when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer. Violators can expect enforcement action. Persons who violate boating laws and regulations are subject to arrest, and upon conviction, the boat operator may be found guilty of a summary offense or misdemeanor. The penalty can be a fine and/or jail sentence. The PFBC is also authorized by law to revoke, suspend or deny the boating privileges of persons who are convicted of violating the boating laws and regulations. Persons whose boating privileges are subject to revocation, suspension or denial will be notified in writing and given the opportunity for a hearing.

PFBC Lakes and Access Areas

Any boat, powered or unpowered, using a PFBC lake or access area, must display a current registration or launch permit. Inflatable boats less than 7 feet in length or which are not constructed of durable fabric and do not have at least two separate buoyancy chambers are prohibited.

Overnight mooring is permitted if the boat has a current registration. Boats may be moored from March 1 through November 30 at designated areas. Launch permits do not allow these same privileges.

The following acts are prohibited on the PFBC property:

• Camping, building or maintaining fires
• Picking, cutting or digging flowers, plants, shrubs or trees
• Swimming at Commission access areas or in Commission-owned lakes
• Leaving trash, garbage or debris, except as placed in containers provided for such purposes and accumulated only during the use of Commission property
• Removing or defacing any sign, poster or property
• Overnight sleeping in boats, automotive vehicles, tents, campers or the like
• Blocking driveways, access roads or launch ramps
• Parking in undesignated areas

While on Commission property, dogs must be licensed and under control. When the dog is on a lawn area, trail or parking lot, it must be on a leash not to exceed 6 feet in length. The maximum number of dogs that an owner or handler is permitted to have on Commission property at one time is two. Droppings must be immediately scooped and disposed of off Commission property. The owner or handler is responsible for the conduct of the dog.

To learn more about amenities and accessibility at PFBC properties, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Permits

All tournaments, regattas, races, parades and exhibitions must be authorized by the PFBC or Coast Guard. An application must be filed with the Commission at least 60 days prior to such event. Forms are available from the Bureau of Law Enforcement.

A ski ramp, floating dock, swim dock or other floating structure must have a permit from the Commission to be placed on any waters. Waterway markers, including signs and buoys, must have a permit from the Commission. Permit applications (PFBC 277) can be found on the Commission's website.

Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD)

The Water Quality Act of 1987 requires the installation of an MSD on all boats with installed toilet systems operating in the navigational waters of the United States. Marine toilets are a source of pollution if not designed correctly.

They must be of a sealed construction, so no waste can be discharged from the toilet directly or indirectly into the water. All MSDs must be USCG approved. Portable toilets are not considered installed toilets. Direct overboard discharge of portable toilet waste is a violation of state water regulations.

Discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited in all fresh water impoundments lying entirely within the boundaries of the state. When boating on these waters, if your watercraft is equipped with an installed toilet system, it must be removed, sealed or drained into a holding tank, which can be carried or pumped ashore for disposal at an approved sewage treatment system. Pre-plan your trip: find pumpout locations on the PFBC website or look for the waterway sign below that indicates their availability.

Littering and Pollution

Plastic bags, discarded fishing line and other garbage kill fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Before throwing away six-pack rings, snip each circle with scissors. Once the rings are cut, no animal can get caught in the rings. In Pennsylvania, it is unlawful for any person to litter. If something blows out of your boat, go back and remove the object(s) from the water. Cigarette butts tossed in Pennsylvania waters is considered littering. Properly dispose of all litter, and report water pollution.

If you see any source or indication of pollution, such as dead fish, call the PFBC’s Pollution Hotline at 855-FISH-KIL, or the Department of Environmental Protection at 800-541-2050, or the appropriate PFBC regional office. During after-hours, weekends and holidays, call the Department of Environmental Protection at 717-787-4343.

Waste, Oil and Trash Disposal in Pennsylvania and Federal Waters

It is illegal to discharge sewage or other human waste, oil or trash into any state or federally controlled waters. Sewage carries disease and other pollutants harmful to people, aquatic plants and animals. Trash thrown into the water can injure swimmers and wildlife alike. It can also plug engine cooling water intakes.

The Refuse Act prohibits throwing, discharging or depositing any refuse matter of any kind (including trash, garbage, oil and other liquid pollutants) into the waters of the United States.

Discharge of oil and other hazardous substances:

• Regulations issued under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act require all boats with propulsion machinery to be able to retain oil mixtures on board.
• Discharge of oil or hazardous substances is prohibited. The penalty for illegal discharge may be a fine of up to $10,000.
• Dumping oil into the bilge of the boat without means for proper disposal is also prohibited. Fuel spills can be removed using absorbent bilge pads.
• Oil waste must be disposed at an approved reception facility. On recreational boats, a bucket or bailer is adequate for temporary storage prior to disposing of the oil waste at an approved facility.
• Notify the Coast Guard immediately if your boat discharges oil or a hazardous substance into the water. Call toll-free 800-424-8802. Report the discharge’s location, color, source, substances, size and time observed. You must also call the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and report the discharge.
• If boating on federally controlled waters and your boat is 26 feet or longer, you must display a 5- x 8-inch placard made of durable material, fixed in a conspicuous place in the machinery spaces or at the bilge pump control station, stating the following: