The discharge of oil into or upon any coastal waters, estuaries, tidal flats, beaches and lands adjoining the seacoast of the State, or into or upon any lake, pond, river, stream, sewer, surface water drainage, ground water or other waters of the State or any public or private water supply or onto lands adjacent to, on, or over such waters of the State is prohibited.   [PL 1985, c. 496, Pt. A, §8 (AMD).]

Notwithstanding the prohibition of this section, the department may license the discharge of waste, refuse or effluent, including natural drainage contaminated by oil into or upon any coastal waters if, and only if, it finds that the discharge will be receiving the best available treatment and that the discharge will not degrade existing water quality, perceptibly violate the classification of the receiving waters or create any visible sheen upon the receiving waters. A license is not required and a person may not be considered in violation of this section for the discharge of oil to surface waters of the State if the discharge occurs in the process of recovering, containing, cleaning up or removing an oil spill to surface waters and is undertaken in compliance with the instructions of the commissioner or the commissioner's designee.   [PL 1993, c. 333, §2 (AMD).]

In acting upon an application for any such license, the department shall follow the provisions of subchapter I insofar as they are applicable.   [PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. A, §40 (AFF); PL 1989, c. 890, Pt. B, §108 (AMD).]