#Trim(mainLayout.Name)# Advertising Info Advertising Info

News Home Text Only News Marine Business News Powerboat-World Olympics 08 World Cruising
 

Sail-World.com : Congress restores exemption on recreational boats

Congress restores exemption on recreational boats

Boat US
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.




by BoatU.S   1:02 AM Wed 23 Jul 2008 GMT



Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Congress-restores-exemption-on-recreational-boats/46771

Click for further information on
North American News

Related News Stories:

28 Aug 2008  PUMA Ocean Racing heads for Spain
27 Aug 2008  Andrew Campbell's final Olympic regatta report
27 Aug 2008  Top ten reasons for pontoon boat insurance claims
26 Aug 2008  New York Yacht Club World Invitational Cup
23 Aug 2008  2008 U.S. O’pen Cup Report
23 Aug 2008  29th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta Comes to Newport
23 Aug 2008  Entries Now Open for 2009 Pineapple Cup
19 Aug 2008  Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club Wins Hinman Mast
13 Aug 2008  Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design Challenge
12 Aug 2008  18' Skiffs stretch their non-Olympic legs
MORE STORIES ...


Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.)  If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side) click here .  For medium sized images (500 pixels long side) click here .  If you would prefer to see text only (without pictures) click here

 
 
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty.Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law, if you wish to use an image from Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com or Marinebusinessnews.com, Contact us .
or complete our feedback form    Contact us .
Company info   View our Privacy Policy.    [Go Home]     [Bot Archive ]