Marine Retailers Association of America Asks For Support Of The Clean Boating Act of 2008

The Marine Retailers Association of America recently issued a press release asking their members to contact their U.S. senators about supporting the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S.2766).

According to the Marine Retailers Association of America, the Senate bill would permanently, immediately and fully restore the permit exemption and expands the definition of a recreational vessel to include small charter fishing boats.

It also includes a section that would allow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard to review whether certain incidental discharges from recreational boats should have some sort of best-management practices. It outlines a three-year process to determine some rules, though a permit would not be part of it.

MRAA is urging action because September deadline is quickly approaching, considering Congress breaks for Memorial Day and an August recess.

In 1973, the EPA recognized it would be unnecessary for recreational boaters to adhere to complex federal and state permitting requirements designed for large point source polluters such as waste water treatment plants, cruise ships, cargo ships, and supertankers. Therefore, recreational boats received a common sense exemption.

However, in September 2006, a U.S. District Court ruling nullified the EPA regulation and said the EPA did not have statutory authority to issue the exemption.

The MRAA says it’s a major blow to recreational boating because incidental discharges, such as engine cooling water, gray water, uncontaminated bilge water, and weather related deck runoff would be prohibited without a new costly permit and non-compliance would be subject to a fine of up to $32,000.00 a day.

Other industry organizations, including the NMMA and BoatU.S., also have been lobbying their members to take similar action.

The bill has a Sept 30 deadline for passage, otherwise a requirement that recreational boats have permits for discharge will go into effect.

As of May 9, the bill has 30 co-sponsors, in addition to its original sponsor Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida,. It would still need to go to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval

“Your work is not yet over,” the MRAA said in an alert to members. “We still need more co-sponsors to get consideration in the senate.”

The MRAA is urging its members to send their senators an e-mail by going to www.boatblue.org.

Source Marine Retailers Association Of America

New noise law causes confusion for Kansas boaters

New laws in Kansas to restrict boat noise went into effect last January 1st. The law put restrictions on the decibel levels of boats and made "captain's call" switches, which shut down boat mufflers and make boats louder, illegal.

Kansas.com reports that owners of boat that are not in compliance with the law are moving their boats out of state to avoid being ticketed. Other boaters are confused over what equipment the law restricts and how to properly modify their boats.

The current law restricts boat noise to around 86 decibels at a range of 50 feet.

The "anti-Buffett bill" might restrict boat music volume levels

What kind of music goes with boating? Do you play rock and roll, hip-hop, or do you just like the sound of the engine and the water?

If you are boating with music in Florida, a new bill nicknamed the "anti-Buffett bill" (after musician Jimmy Buffett), might have you turning down the volume.

The WMBB TV web site reports on Senate Bill 1988, proposing limits on boating music volume. Any boater who plays music audible from 100 feet away would be charged with a non-criminal infraction.

Not all Florida residents think there needs to be a new law. Some boaters view the bill as more meddling by government officials.

What do you think? Should boats have music volume limits? Would your boat be affected by such a law when you play your music on the water? Leave a comment and tell us what you think of the "anti-Buffett bill", especially if you are a Parrothead.