As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
INVASIVE NONNATIVE AQUATIC ANIMAL Any animal that is not native to Long Island or the northeastern United States, including, but not limited to, the species Chann argus (northern snakehead) or Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel).
INVASIVE NONNATIVE AQUATIC PLANT Any aquatic plant that is not native to Long Island or the northeastern United States, including, but not limited to, the species Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort), Egeria densa (Brazilian waterweed), Eichornia azurea (water hyacinth), Hydrilla verticillata (hydrilla), Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frogbit), Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrot feather), Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil), Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart), Potamogeton crispus (curlyleaf pondweed) or Trapa natans (water chestnut).
No person shall introduce, throw, dump, deposit, place or cause to be introduced, thrown, dumped, deposited or placed in any river, stream, lake, pond, wetland or stormwater drain, in whatever capacity and for whatever purpose, anything containing an invasive nonnative aquatic animal or an invasive nonnative aquatic plant as defined herein.
Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this article shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for each offense.
This article shall be enforced by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services in accordance with the provisions of Article
II of the Suffolk County Sanitary Code.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this article.
This article shall apply to all actions occurring on or after the effective date of this article.
This article shall be null and void on the day that statewide or federal legislation goes into effect, incorporating either the same or substantially similar provisions as are contained in this article, or in the event that a pertinent state or federal administrative agency issues and promulgates regulations preempting such action by the County of Suffolk. The County Legislature may determine via mere resolution whether or not identical or substantially similar statewide legislation has been enacted for the purposes of triggering the provisions of this section.