[MRSSA News] FW: Support S. 2766 the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (sponsored by Senators Boxer and Bill Nelson)

[Larry Meany]

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Hanson [mailto:mhanson547 at verizon.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 5:48 AM
To: 'Bob Marx'; 'Bruce Berg'; 'Bruce McCalmon'; 'Bud Ruhl'; 'Cam McNeil';
'Casey Weakly'; 'Chris Copeland'; 'Donna Jenkins'; 'Garry Stout'; 'Gerry,
Cathy Luithing'; 'Hans Hauschild'; 'James Martin'; 'Jim Boland'; 'Jim
Lauzon'; 'Joel Shapiro'; 'JR Wilson'; 'Kevin Hayes'; 'Kurt Bemman'; 'Larry
Meany'; luv2ski16 at mchsi.com; 'Mark Neuberger'; 'Mark Poulos'; 'Mike Hanson';
'Roger Gerstad'; 'Roger Olson'; 'Sherm Schraft'; 'Skip Gilkerson'; 'Stewart
Bieber'; 'Terry Pasterski'; 'Tom Ghiloni'
Subject: FW: Support S. 2766 the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (sponsored by
Senators Boxer and Bill Nelson)

Please pass on to all of your clubs.
Thanks Mike


Mike Hanson

NSSA President
Lake Wales, FL 
www.usawaterski.org 


-----Original Message-----
From: Melanie McKeen Hanson [mailto:mhanson at usawaterski.org] 
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 11:09 AM
To: mhanson547 at verizon.net; mike at liquidsportsmarine.com
Subject: FW: Support S. 2766 the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (sponsored by
Senators Boxer and Bill Nelson)

I did this based on the article on our Web site. Pass it on....

Melanie McKeen Hanson
Director of Membership Programs
mhanson at usawaterski.org
Ext. 115

USA Water Ski


-----Original Message-----
From: National Marine Manufacturers Assn [mailto:mhanson at usawaterski.org] 
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 11:05 AM
To: National Marine Manufacturers Assn
Subject: Support S. 2766 the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (sponsored by
Senators Boxer and Bill Nelson)

Thank you for using National Marine Manufacturers Assn Mail System

Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Martinez
Senator Nelson
Message text follows:

Melanie Hanson
1185 Yarnell AVe
Lake Wales, FL 33853-3929


May 5, 2008

[recipient address was inserted here]


Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

Recreational boating is one of the most enjoyable American pastimes for 73 
million boaters nationwide to spend time together outside enjoying our 
natural treasures with friends and family.  But, unless Congressional 
action is taken soon to pass S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008, the 
estimated 18 million recreational boats in this country could be subjected 
to sweeping new regulations and permit requirements intended for 
commercial ships with ballast water tanks, preventing boaters from 
enjoying this great past time.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June 20, 2007, that 
they will begin moving forward with a new and unprecedented permitting 
scheme for recreational boats to comply with a September 2006 landmark 
ballast water court ruling.  Under the ruling, EPA will have to devise a 
permitting scheme by September 30, 2008, for engine cooling water, bilge 
water, gray water, and deck runoff from recreational boats previously 
exempted under the Clean Water Act.  

For 34 years recreational vessels have been exempted by EPA from National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for these effluents 
deemed normal to the operation of vessels.  These permits are more 
commonly applied to large commercial sites and water treatment facilities. 
 However, the court struck this exemption down because it also exempted 
ballast water discharges from large ocean going commercial ships that have 
introduced damaging aquatic invasive species into U.S. waters for many 
years through their ballast water discharges.  The court's decision was 
intended to protect the environment and local communities, but it will now 
unfortunately toss recreational boats into the same category as commercial 
cargo ships.  This was clearly never the intention of the law, or the EPA.

I am writing today to ask you to fix this oversight by supporting passage 
of S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008. By supporting S. 2766, and its 
passage into law, you will enshrine this proven 34-year old exemption for 
recreational boats, sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer and Bill Nelson.  
The legislation is straight forward and specific, and would only apply to 
recreational boats and their water-based engine cooling water, bilge 
water, gray water, and common deck runoff.

As a boater, I can tell you that it is important that we protect our 
environment for future enjoyment.  The ballast water debate should be 
about addressing the important environmental concerns about large cargo 
ships and their ballast water tanks.  However it should not be about 
preventing boaters from enjoying this great American past time with an 
unnecessary, complex, onerous and unprecedented permitting scheme.  Please 
consider co-sponsoring and supporting passage of S. 2766, it is important 
legislation for the nation's 73 million avid boaters and the 380,000 U.S. 
workers of the recreational boating industry.

Sincerely,


Melanie Hanson
863-679-2618