Final answer:
In Texas, you must carry a Certificate of Number and proof of boater education on your vessel. The USCG and EPA regulate ballast water discharge, requiring commercial vessels to submit a Ballast Water Report. Hazardous materials and waste regulations also apply to vessels.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Texas, the documents that must be carried on board your vessel when operated on Texas waters include a valid Certificate of Number (registration) and proof of having taken a boater education course if required by law based on the operator's age.
This is in line with both federal and state regulations that govern the use of waterways and the vessels that operate on them. It is essential for the safety and environmental protection of the waterways that these documents are always on board. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate particularly the discharge of ballast water (BW), as BW can introduce non-native invasive species into the ecosystem.