Boat owners need to let
the EPA know how they
operate, maintain and
even clean their boats.
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ALEXANDRIA, Va.- Remember the Clean
Boating Act of 2008? The bi-partisan
federal legislation stopped recreational
boats from falling under Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) permit
requirements originally targeting
"normal operating discharges" from
commercial ships. However, the Act
required the EPA to analyze recreational
boat discharges and eventually mandate
"Management Practices" to address
environmental concerns.
Now the Agency is asking boaters to
speak up about how they operate and
maintain their boat as it moves forward
developing and eventually implementing
those management practices. The deadline
for comments is June 2.
"Management Practices would be methods,
techniques, or tools which could
mitigate any environmental impact of
normal discharges into our waters," said
BoatUS Vice President of Government
Affairs Margaret Podlich. "They will
vary according to boat type and what
that vessel could potentially discharge.
For example, the EPA is looking at
engine maintenance and could create a
management practice that requires the
use of a bilge sock to soak up oil in
your engine compartment. Of course, this
couldn't apply to a rowboat. But it's
important to understand they are looking
at all recreational watercraft."
Continued Podlich, "BoatUS has been
working with boaters for years to help
them understand how to minimize their
impact while enjoying the water. We know
that boaters are strong, clean boating
advocates, and we firmly believe that
any new mandatory management practices
must be based in science, and should be
practical, realistic, and economical.
That's why we need boaters to speak out
now."
To hear boater's concerns and
suggestions, the EPA has set up two ways
to communicate:
1. Boaters can be heard at the agency's
alternative weekly online webinars that
started March 21 and end April 25. To
find out the dates and to register for
these online listening sessions go to:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/participate.cfm
2. Boaters can also email the EPA
directly at CleanBoatingAct-HQ@EPA.GOV
up until June 2.
The EPA is looking at several broad
categories of vessel discharges
including the use of anti-fouling paints
and zincs, grey water (from showers and
sinks), bilge water (with concern about
oil and grease, which is already illegal
to discharge), the use of cleaning
products, disposal of garbage and
fishing waste, and the transport of
invasive species.
The Clean Boating Act law requires the
EPA to consider many factors when
developing these management practices,
including the type of the discharge and
its environmental affect, any effects on
operation or safety, economic costs,
international standards, and
applicability to state or federal law.
The Agency also held a listening session
in Annapolis, MD, which BoatUS attended.
"The EPA shared with us that they expect
to use some of the more common clean
boating techniques already found in some
areas," said Podlich. "However, no
specific proposal or required action was
presented, so more details are elusive.
As a result, boaters need to stay tuned
to what EPA is planning and make their
voices heard in these listening
sessions."
For more information on the Clean
Boating Act of 2008, go to
www.BoatUS.com/gov/cba.
For clean boating tips and techniques
visit the BoatUS Foundation for Boating
Safety and Clean Water's clean boating
web page at
BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater.
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