BRC: Vote Scheduled On Clean Boating Act Of 2008

[Blue Ribbon Coalition]

Date: 05/19/2008 BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT



VOTE SCHEDULED ON CLEAN BOATING ACT OF 2008

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Attention recreationists, your help needed. The vote scheduled on the Clean Boating Act of 2008 will affect recreational boating, including PWCs!

Please take time to review this alert; you need to make sure you understand the Clean Boating Act of 2008. Without this federal legislation, you will need to apply and pay for a discharge permit to legally operate each of your recreational boats starting September 30, 2008.

This legislation is an effort to deal with the federal regulations that will affect most recreational boats. It is similar to Recreational Boating Act of 2007, which did not pass. With the introduction of the Clean Boating Act of 2008, a common sense exemption nationwide would be restored for recreational boaters. The legislation, introduced on March 13, 2008, by the Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), seeks to ensure recreational boaters and anglers will not need a federal permit to operate their boats.

The Clean Boating Act of 2008 would permanently restore a common sense regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from federal and state permitting requirements designed for land-based industrial facilities and ocean-going commercial ships.

BlueRibbon has been working with other boating groups to inform the recreational boating community (including PWCs) about this new proposed legislation. We know that boating depends on clean water and healthy natural resources. However, a boat permit will not create a tangible environmental benefit, and it will be only another inconvenience and tax for you.

Please take a few minutes and review the important information on this legislation at www.boatblue.org.

Jack Welch
BlueRibbon Coalition
Special Projects Consultant

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