EPA and boater comment period

[rorik]

I lifted this from the Cape Dory forum where I'm a member:

April 4, 2011

Dear BoatU.S. Member,

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is developing future clean boating requirements for all recreational boats in the next few months, and they need to hear from you. During April, they are hosting weekly "webinars" to solicit boater input (April 6 - 6 pm, April 14 - 8 pm, April 22 - 10 am, and April 25 - 12 pm; all eastern time). I'm writing to encourage you to participate in one of these online events.

For more information on the webinars and to register in advance (which is required): http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/participate.cfm

A specific list of proposed requirements is not yet available. We do know that sewage will not be discussed or covered - it's part of a different law. EPA is looking at several broad categories of vessel discharges:

Antifouling paints and zincs
Graywater (from showers and sinks)
Bilge water (with concern about oil and grease, which is already illegal to discharge)
Cleaning products/maintenance practices
Disposal of garbage and fishing waste
Transport of invasive species
We need you to help EPA know that any new mandatory "management practices" must be based in science, and should be reasonable, practical, and economical. You should share with EPA the clean boating practices that you already employ, or that can be easily adopted within your boating. For ideas:
http://www.boatus.com/foundation/cleanwater/

For additional information on this topic from BoatU.S. go to:
www.boatus.com/gov/cba/

You may also submit questions, comments or concerns directly to CleanBoatingAct-HQ@EPA.GOV before June 2, 2011.

For more info from EPA:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm

It is crucial that EPA hear from a variety of boaters on this topic. We hope you can tune into one of these sessions so that EPA can gain your perspective.

Many thanks for being a BoatU.S. Member!

Margaret Podlich
Vice President, BoatU.S. Government Affairs
GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com
703-461-2878 x8363
BoatUS.com/Gov


My thoughts....

My marina here in Tacoma WA as of last spring no longer allows the use of any cleaning products on the exterior of the boat other than water or vinegar. Failure to comply means losing your moorage, even if you live aboard. They cite potential repercussions from the state Dept of Natural Resources and local environmental groups like the Puget Sound Keeper Alliance ( they've filed, I believe, roughly 4 dozen lawsuits in the last 5 years against marinas and boat shops).
During the warmer months, especially on the weekends, we have environmentalists in little dinghies, trespassing in marina waters, making sure we aren't using soap, etc.

There is a bill in the WA legislature that will ban copper bottom paint. It will most likely be law soon.

http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/archives/15717

If a particular amendment to the bill gets added, and it probably will, the law will only apply to recreational boats under 65' in length.
Millionaires, military and commercial will be exempt.
The Port Townsend Tenants Union (liveaboards, mostly on wooden boats) put together a position paper in response. The information they've gathered and listed at the end of the paper is very interesting.
And I will be very surprised if EPA hasn't seen the information listed but will ignore it and move on with their "goals".

http://ptsail.org/2011/02/20/moorage-tenants-union-position-paper-on-proposed-copper-paint-ban/


What will your reaction be if EPA thinks my states new law should be the new federal standard?
What if EPA doesn't just stop there?
Will the USCG be enforcing the "no soap, no copper paint, et al" rules?
Will it be part of their safety inspection?
Will it be just a fine, like in WA, of $10,000 a day per instance?
Or will it be a confiscatory situation like a meth addicts car?

Don't laugh... it's not funny anymore....

[s/v Faith]

rorik,

  Thank you for bringing this up.  I see this as an important issue, and it will potentially have significant implications for us all.

  Just a reminder to all, one of the things that we try to guard against here is re-hashing the same political debates that take place across the internet most everywhere else.  Please DO participate, but at the same time please avoid the focus on politics that we try so hard to avoid.

[rorik]

Well, it passed........but it only applies to pleasure boats under 65'.
Military, commercial and millionaires are exempt.

http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2011-SB-5436

I read elsewhere that CA is working on a similar bill.
So something like this will most likely be coming to a state near you soon.

My initial post was not about politics. It was about flawed science, unevenly applied.
Sorry for the confusion.