[lbmboa.information] Update: EPA Discharge Permit: Where are we now?

[BOA Information Services]

Update:  EPA Discharge Permit: Where are we now?

 For the last several months, BoatUS has been working to fight the
developing EPA discharge permit for ³normal operational discharges²,
including grey water, deck wash, and engine cooling water from all vessels.
Unless there is a change in the court decision, or legislation is passed,
this permit system will require that boaters in the U.S. apply and pay for a
discharge permit for each of their boats to operate after September 30,
2007.

 The House bill, HR 2550, continues to gather co-sponsors (now numbering
55). Please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR02550:@@@P
to see the list of current cosponsors of this bill. If your Representative
is not listed, we encourage you to contact them and ask that they co-sponsor
the bill. The bill has been sent to the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, but a hearing (and vote) have not yet been scheduled.

 Meanwhile on the Senate side, there have been a few developments. Senator
Mel Martinez (R-FL) introduced S. 2067, which is basically the same as HR
2550. Last week at an unrelated Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) agreed to work on a
legislative solution so that recreational boats would not need a permit.
This is great news for recreational boaters, but we still have much work to
do. We expect to hear in the next few weeks where all this Senate activity
sorts out and we¹ll let you know on this webpage.
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