Oh great.... More taxes (boat permits)

Mark42 · Dec 21, 2007

I found this little gem of information that should interest anyone with a boat. Apparently this is for real.

Federal Alerts

November 28, 2007

EPA Discharge Permit Requirement for Recreational Boats

Background:
For 34 years the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted discharges from recreational boats from the Clean Water Act permit system. Regretfully, a fall 2006 U.S. District Court ruling cancelled this permit exemption. EPA is now required by the court decision to develop and implement by September 30, 2008 a national permit system for ALL vessels in the United States for a variety of normal operational discharges.

The original lawsuit that led to this court decision sought to address ballast water discharges from large ocean-going ships, which can introduce damaging aquatic invasive species into U.S. waters. Keeping our waterways clean and preventing the spread of invasive species is of utmost importance to the future of boating. But taking a complex permitting system designed for industrial dischargers and applying it to recreational boats will not yield significant environmental benefits and it will come at a very high cost. Requiring recreational boaters to purchase a permit would not prevent the spread of invasive species.

If the permit system becomes a reality, you will be required to pay for a state permit for each of your boats. EPA will be potentially monitoring your deck runoff, grey water, bilge water, engine cooling water, and the use of copper bottom paints.

It is important to note that there are already federal laws restricting the overboard discharge of oil, fuel, garbage and sewage. The proposed legislation will not alter any of these existing restrictions.

November 28, 2007:
Action Needed:
We need your help to push Congress to pass legislation “The Recreational Boating Act of 2007” (H.R. 2550/S. 2067) that will reinstate the permit exemption for recreational boats.

Please contact your Congressman and Senators TODAY and ask that they co-sponsor or support H.R. 2550 and S. 2067.

Click here to see today’s Action Alert and send an email to your Members of Congress.
Click here for a sample email letter. (Word Document)
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions

The original copy (with working links) can be found at: http://www.boatus.com/gov/fed_alert.asp

Here is the email I sent my local representative:

Name: xxxxx xxxxxx (Mark42)
E-mail Address: bbbb@yahoo.com
Phone:
Street Address: 1 Main St
City: Anywhere, NJ
Zip: 07000

Comments:

Dear Congressman Scott Garrett,

I am writing to urge you to support H.R. 2550/S. 2067 “The Recreational Boating Act of 2007.” (Take note that NJ Rep Robert E. Andrews, Rep Frank A. LoBiondo and Rep Jim Saxton are alreay supporting this legislation.) This legislation would allow boating to continue in this country as a viable, healthy, family pastime, instead of being saddled with new regulations and permit requirements intended for commercial ships with ballast water tanks. In 2006, a U.S. District Court decision struck down the 34-year permit exemption for recreational boats within the Clean Water Act. As a result, unless H.R. 2550/S. 2067 is passed, the EPA is required to develop and implement a permitting system for all boats in the U.S. (no matter the size or type) by September 30, 2008. H.R. 2550/S. 2067 does not weaken or reverse any current environmental regulations. It simply allows boats to be operated the same way they are being operated this year, without an onerous and costly permit system. I enjoy boating in NJ, NY and PA. Boating is what my family does on our vacation time. I have two small (under 16ft) boats and pay insurance and boat registration and trailer registration fees. Additional permit fees is just an unnecessary tax cutting into our vacation funds. There are an estimated 18 million recreational boats in the country, offering a great way of life to boaters and more than 850,000 jobs nationwide in the marine industry. H.R. 2550/S. 2067 is legislation that will keep boating intact. I urge you to actively support this legislation. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I hope to see your name added to the other NJ Reps supporting NJ's recreational boaters.
Sincerely, Mark42

If you follow the web address above you can find links to find your congressman and who is supporting this legislation.

I mentioned in my letter three other NJ congressmen that are already supporting it so he will hopefully have to "keep up with the Jones's" .

I think its worth writing about.

DJ · Dec 21, 2007

Re: Oh great.... More taxes (boat permits)

They are really after the Zebra Mussel and other foreign aquatic pests that have plagued us recently. However, I hate to let that camel get its nose under the tent.

SpinnerBait_Nut · Dec 21, 2007

Re: Oh great.... More taxes (boat permits)

Yea, I notified mine when I first heard about it.

SgtMaj · Dec 22, 2007

Re: Oh great.... More taxes (boat permits)

damn that mussel that's cleaning the water we've worked so hard to pollute.

I realize the problems they pose to hydro-electric turbines, but there are engineering fixes for that, that any aquarium enthusiest can figure out. How about a very simple strainer and UV sterilizer for the water entering the turbines? It would be low cost, retrofitable, and wouldn't require attempting to wipe out a species that does an excellent job cleaning our waterways of harmful toxins, fertilizers, and sewage that has been and continues to enter the waterways.

Bondo · Dec 22, 2007

Re: Oh great.... More taxes (boat permits)

Ayuh,........

I've been following this for awhile,+ I'm pretty sure that My congressman is 1 of the Sponsers of the New bill........

The Problem here is Ship's Ballast Water,.......
Not the bilge discharge from local Recreational Boaters............

DJ · Dec 22, 2007