Dodge the bullet (not yet we need all the help we can get)

[Ron Manicom]

This is a little late, but the news is better than it was a few weeks ago.

The Clean Boating Act of 2006 had left off a long-standing EPA exemption for recreational boaters (that's us) that would have required an EPA permit to operate their boats in US waters after September 2008. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), the Clean Boating Act of 2008 sponsors, have restored a commonsense "35-year old Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) exemption for 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." [http://www.boatblue .org/news. aspx?id=17220]

Congress has to pass this provision before the September 2008 deadline mandated by the Clean Boating Act of 2006.

Please call or even better write your Congressperson and urge swift and smooth passage of this bill. Any boating related organization you belong to should be making their voice known. The groups who have been working on our behalf that I have seen are the National Boating Federation (NBF) and Boat-US but especially the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) . Kudos to them. Now write that letter.

PPS Another caveat: "They" are beginning to notice a difference in boat use by recreationals and liveaboards. I don't care if you are out in the boonies, we'll fight the grey water battle before long. Hopefully all of you have holding tanks for black water.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ron Manicom]

The Epa Permits we (all recreational boaters) will be required to get are the same permits as the big shipping lines and cruise ships are required to have, a permit to operate a watercraft can take up to a year to obtain, and is a Royal Pain in the Ass to get, there are inspections involved and certifications to be gotten from the USCG, If this is enacted we will be subjected to the same Laws as the big ships hence the ammendments,

[Franc]

BREAKING NEWS:

President Bush Signs the Clean Boating Act of 2008 and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 Into Law

On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, the President signed into law:

The Clean Boating Act of 2008, which exempts certain discharges incidental to the normal operation of a recreational vessel from regulation under the Clean Water Act.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2008, the President signed into law:

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which authorizes the Department of the Treasury to purchase obligations of housing Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs); reforms the regulatory supervision of the housing GSEs; provides reform of the Federal Housing Administration; provides homeownership assistance and reforms to mitigate recent increases in foreclosures; and contains housing-related tax incentives and other tax provisions.

SOURCE: White House News

[John Shasteen]

Bullet Dodged
Here's a brief overview from BoatUS:
President Bush Signs Clean Boating Act of 2008!
July 30, 2008
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.