504 



of such effluent and make reports to the Department, or that the Department shall monitor 

 the quality of such effluent itself and charge such person or governmental agency the ex- 

 pense thereof. 



2.202 - Other Water Quality Controls 



(a) The Department may require that any person or governmental agency secure a 

 permit, as the Department may prescribe by regulation, before discharging effluent into 

 the waters of the State. In the issuance of such permits the Department may impose such 

 limitations on the duration, location, nature and quality of the effluent as it may find 

 necessary for the effective maintenance of the water quality standards if has promulgated. 



(b) The Department may, by regulation, require that persons or governmental agencies 

 discharging effluent into the waters of the State pay a charge to the Department. If the 

 Department imposes such charges, it shall prescribe, by regulation, reasonable standards 

 for the determination of the amount. 



(c) The Department may, by regulation, require vessels registered in the State to 

 carry waste collection and disposal equipment of a type suited to reduce the deposition 

 in the waters of the State of human and other sewage and waste. 



(d) The Department may adopt any other regulations necessary for the implementa- 

 tion and enforcement of the water plan and the water quality standards for the waters of 

 the State. 



2.203 - Existing Discharges 



The fact that any person or governmental agency has, prior to the effective date of 

 this act, been discharging effluent at a given location, in a given quantity or of a given 

 quality shall in no way be considered to exempt such person or governmental agency from 

 any procedures the Department may adopt pursuant to this act to regulate and control ef- 

 fluent discharges and water quality. 



2.204 - Defense in Private Suit 



In any suit brought by any person or governmental agency against any other person 

 or governmental agency for reducing the quality of water or for rendering it harmful or 

 noxious or for in any way affecting the usefulness of the water, proof that the defendant 

 is acting within all the applicable regulations and procedures of the Department shall be 

 a complete defense to the action. 



2.205 - Transition 



All water quality standards, regulations, controls and effluent permits in effect on 

 the effective date of this act shall continue in full force and effect until changed, amended 

 or modified by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this act. 



