Pass the Clean Boating Act of 2008: Protect the Future of Recreational Boating

Update: The Clean Boating Act of 2008 has been passed! According to the White House Blog, President Bush Signed and passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008 on July 29, 2008. View President Bush Signs the Clean Boating Act of 2008...Recreational boaters, anglers, and charters are now safe!

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All recreational boaters, anglers, and charters need to take action to bump the Clean Boating Act of 2008, S. 2766/H.R. 5949, to Congress for a vote before September 30, 2008. If this act is not passed, the future of pleasure boating is at risk! An amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or the Clean Water Act), the Clean Boating Act of 2008 excludes recreational boaters, anglers, and charters from obtaining costly permits for normal recreational boat water discharge.

A recent court ruling regarding ballast water dumping has mandated that all vessels in the United States obtain water discharge permits by September 30, 2008. All vessels is inclusive of boats that are manufactured for pleasure and those that are owned, leased, rented, or chartered for pleasure.

Ballast is a water storage tank system aiding ships and submarines in stability and buoyancy. Water is drawn into the ballast and discharged elsewhere. This causes an introduction of nuisance aquatic species into non-native waters. Most, if not all, pleasure vessels do not have ballasts and do not cause this threat.

"The Clean Boating Act of 2008 restores a 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." (Recreational Boating Industry Applauds Introduction of the Clean Boating Act of 2008)

If the Clean Boating Act of 2008 is not passed by September 30 2008, all recreational boaters, anglers, and charters will be required to obtain additional costly boat permits. Along with other legal implications, boaters without a permit will be assessed daily fines until the permit is obtained. Speculation is the permit must be renewed every 5 years and will be required state to state.

Think about it, if the Clean Boating Act of 2008 is not passed, you will need yet another permit to operate your vessel! These permits will vary from state to state. If you cross-states to boat, you may need two or more permits.

It is time to take action to protect the future of boating. If you enjoy boating, you can help by voicing your concerns to Congress. The Boat Blue Organization has a Take Action Alert set up for you to contact your Congressman and encourage passing the Clean Boating Act of 2008. Time is of the essence in this matter. Save the future of boating, please Take Action now!

Sources:

"Recreational Boating Industry Applauds Introduction of the Clean Boating Act of 2008" (http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/mar/13/recreational-boating-industry-applauds-introductio/)
http://www.boatus.com/gov/alert_0308.asp
http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/conservation/news/story?page=b_con_news_future_boating

View Clean Boating Act of 2008: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.2766: