A Win for the Good Guys

[Bill Basler]

Many of us have been following this issue, and I know we have discussed the implications should the EPA Permitting requirements have applied to recreational boaters. It looks like we have dodged a bullet this time. Thanks to all of you who joined in the grassroots effort.

As reported in Boat U.S. ...

NEWS From BoatU.S.
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatU.S. News Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/news/releases.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Margaret Podlich, 703-461-2878 x8355, [email protected]

CONGRESS RESTORES 35-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS
FROM PROPOSED EPA PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS

NO NEW PERMIT FOR BOATS REQUIRED

ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 22, 2008 - In a remarkable display of bipartisan support for recreational boating, both the House and Senate today passed S. 2766, "The Clean Boating Act of 2008" which will permanently restore a long-standing exemption for recreational boats from permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The legislation now goes to the White House for the President's signature.

Congressional action was spawned by a U.S. District Court decision in September 2006 under which an estimated 17 million recreational boats would have fallen under Clean Water Act permit requirements effective September 30, 2008. The permit would have dictated maintenance and operation procedures and potentially subjected boaters to citizen lawsuits as well as a penalty system designed for industrial polluters.

"This is a fabulous victory for common sense and it just goes to show what can be done when the boating public, the marine industry and its representatives in Congress row together in a bipartisan way," said BoatU.S. President Nancy Michelman.

BoatU.S. Government Affairs Director Margaret Podlich was quick to shower praise on a boatload of legislators who did much of the heavy lifting including Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representatives Jim Oberstar (D-MN), Steve LaTourette (R-OH), Candice Miller (R-MI) and Gene Taylor (D-MS). A complete listing of all legislators involved will be available at http://www.BoatUS.com/gov soon.

BoatU.S. has worked for more than a year with the National Marine Manufacturers Association and a broad coalition of stakeholders to resolve the problem before the permitting deadline.

"One of the real keys to success here was our collective ability to activate the grassroots," said Podlich, noting that tens of thousands of letters and e-mails were generated by boaters and anglers over the course of the past 12 months.

BoatU.S. is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boat owners with over 650,000 members.

[Bill Basler]

This just in from Club member and NMMA member David Dehorn, as reported in NMMA Currents

It's Official: President Bush Signs Clean Boating Act of 2008!
Tuesday afternoon, July 29, President George Bush signed into law H.R. 5949/S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008, solidifying continued protection for boaters, anglers and marine enthusiasts all across the country.

President Bush's signature of this important bill officially closes the door on a two-year battle to reinstate a long-standing, commonsense exemption under the Clean Water Act that allows recreational boaters and anglers to operate vessels on America's waterways without special permits for non-pollutant discharges.

Passage of this legislation has been the top legislative priority for NMMA during the 110th Congress, and NMMA staff and its members, including BoatU.S. and West Marine among others, worked diligently and tirelessly to see the Clean Boating Act became equally as important to members of Congress.

Introduced by Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in the Senate and by Representatives Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Candice Miller (R-Mich.) in the House, the Clean Boating Act of 2008 will prevent federal and state permitting of water-based, non-polluting incidental discharges that occur in the normal operation of a recreational boat, such as weather deck run-off and engine coolant water.

Signage of H.R. 5949/S. 2766 into law is an historic victory for NMMA's 1,700 member companies and for boaters and anglers nationwide!

©2008 - National Marine Manufacturers Association

[campjer]

Excellent news for all! Now when some crazy politician attempts to pass such a bill in Canada - I hope I can call on not only fellow Canadians to fight it - but all American's to write our MP's stating how they'll never visit Canada via the waterways should such a bill be passed.

Though, since it's been fought down south of the boarder - it would take a real nut job to attempt to put it into motion up here!

[jdeancrew]

Thanks for following up....