GL: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for recreational boating

[royelshort at aol.com]

Thought some of you folks might want to hear this.B B  We recreational boaters
are safe again for awhile

Dear Mr. Short:

Thank you for contacting me regarding exemptions from Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulations for recreational boating.B  Recreational boaters do
not need to obtain operating permits from the EPA, but a recent court decision
threatened to eliminate this exemption in September 2008.

I introduced the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S. 2766) to ensure that
recreational boaters can operate as they always have--without EPA permits. To
help protect the health of the nation's waterways, on which recreational
boaters depend, the bill also would require the EPA to examine best-management
practices for boaters. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously on
July 22.

I also cosponsored S. 3298, which would establish a two-year moratorium on
incidental discharge permits for commercial fishing vessels and for all other
commercial boats under 79 feet while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
conducts an environmental impact study on vessel discharges. This bill passed
both houses of Congress on the same day as the Clean Boating Act.

I am committed to preserving Floridabs waterways without placing an undue
burden on boaters. I appreciate your interest in this issue, and I hope you
will not hesitate to contact me in the future.



Roy & Elvie on Roy El'