Important EPA Webinars

[Captains Cat]

Received this from Boat US today. Seems as if there are real possibilities that we could have some more restrictions placed on us in the name of the environment. Have copied the whole letter in case you are interested in participating.
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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/lawsguida ... cipate.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/lawsguida ... /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

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Charlie

 

[Pat Anderson]

Thanks, Charlie. It would probably be good for EVERY C-Brat to weigh in with the EPA on this.

 

[thataway]

I saw that also--my thought was no matter what the survey says, there will be more regulations....Have to justify the people and budget.

 

[DaveS]

EPA is looking at several broad categories of vessel discharges:

Disposal of garbage and fishing waste

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

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Charlie

In referencing "fishing waste", a hypothetical question comes to mind....if a BIG FISH chomps into a little fish and creates "fishing waste', will the BIG FISH in the future have to pick up the "fishing waste" and dispose of it in some "friendly manner"?..... :wink (just thinking out loud.... ).

 

[Dreamer]

I'm wondering what they consider fishing waste :? Any fishing waste I ever tossed over the side became fish-food before it hit the bottom! You have to wonder if any of these Bozos have ever been on a boat or fished.

We ran into a Grey water collection requirement in Idaho in certain counties. Luckily the sink and shower through hulls are both undr the sink. We disconnected them both and inserted the hoses into a 5 gallon water container. When pumping out, the grey water was poured into the head after the black water was pumped out. It provided a good rinse for the holding tank.

 

[rogerbum]

My guess would be that the concern re: fishing waste is the disposal of a day (or more) worth of carcasses at the marina behind the breakwater after one has returned and cleaned the fish at the marina. I've seen that happen in some locations and the waste can build up during the hot fishing seasons.

 

[Will-C]

I responded to them directly from a Boat Us provided link. I mentioned they might want to first give some thought to helping the Japanese fix the flow of radioactive water into the ocean before worring about my grey water. It's funny how the great lakes has been inundated with zebra mussels and gobies by large commerical foreign vessels and they are making more rules for recreational boaters. I also mentioned the boat industry is struggling to get back on it's feet and that they don't need a higher cost of doing business right now, along with the idea of putting more folks out of work by some bureaucrats with bad information. I went on to say that I was contacting my local senator to see if it was possible to get their funding cut. I wonder if you will still be able to fish with cut bait,(fish waste)Like there aren't enough regulations already. I did offer a suggestion that they ban ethanol use as it was a bad idea all the way around and they could save billions by not subidizing already rich mega farmers.
D.D.

 

[Captains Cat]

I saw that also--my thought was no matter what the survey says, there will be more regulations....Have to justify the people and budget.

With any kind of luck, looks like the current Congress may take care of a big part of the EPA! :lol:

Charlie

 

[rogerbum]

I saw that also--my thought was no matter what the survey says, there will be more regulations....Have to justify the people and budget.

With any kind of luck, looks like the current Congress may take care of a big part of the EPA! :lol:

Charlie

Then we could move back to the glorious pre-EPA days? I know that the smog levels now in most major cities I visit are lower than when I was a kid. I know that we have a chance of seeing the ozone hole reverse course and become smaller during my lifetime (BTW it was the worst ever this year). I know that numerous EPA superfund sites have been cleaned up during my lifetime (although there are more to be cleaned). Oh how I long for the clean air and safe business practices prior to the formation of the EPA....
Love canal

 

[Will-C]

Well in the context of this thread, is recreational boating is a real priority for the EPA which I guess was your point?. I'm not sure what the impact of boaters were/ are on the smog in the cities. I'm sure the agency has done some good. Have they been a factor in loss in our manufacturering based economy? Did they stop big mining operations? Did they go a little over board in some cases. IMHO I think so. My point here is not to attack other posters but to suggest the EPA has bigger fish to fry than the recreational boater.
D.D.

 

[rogerbum]

Well in the context of this thread, is recreational boating is a real priority for the EPA which I guess was your point?. I'm not sure what the impact of boaters were/ are on the smog in the cities. I'm sure the agency has done some good. Have they been a factor in loss in our manufacturering based economy? Did they stop big mining operations? Did they go a little over board in some cases. IMHO I think so. My point here is not to attack other posters but to suggest the EPA has bigger fish to fry than the recreational boater.
D.D.

Charlie's post was specifically stating that "With any kind of luck, looks like the current Congress may take care of a big part of the EPA!". My point was that the EPA has done many good things and that we as a society are on the whole better off due to many of the things the EPA has done and many environmental regulations. It's very convenient to base job loss on "over regulation" in the U.S. when there are many contributors (not the least of which is cheaper labor in other countries). Admittedly, some other countries have lower levels of regulation (but not Europe). However, I'm not sure we want to rush to the lowest common denominator in that regard. That appears to be where we would head if we continue to believe that the problem is due to regulation. China is a good example - labor is cheap and environmental regulations are minimal there. They will pay for that in the long run (and already do). Ditto for many other cheap labor markets - often minimal environmental regulation.

Now as to the EPA's role in boating and recreational boating in particular - there are many fish to fry but all of us need to do our part. Pollution due to recreational boat is especially a problem in relatively closed systems like lakes and marinas behind breakwaters. Again, look at the practices of the past in regards to fuel spills, grey and black water discharges etc. Things are better in most marinas now and they're better because of regulation.

Improvements in environmental practices often require regulation. Regulation is often driven by the needs/complaints of citizens. Yes, sometimes regulation goes overboard. That's why it's important for us to participate in the discussions. But I'm sure not interested in seeing the EPA go away and that's what some in office would like.

 

[Captains Cat]

I do not disagree with what the EPA does nor what they have accomplished. I just think much of the Govt is too big and when that happens, they get into areas (like recreational boating) that they should stay out of. They make "rules" which have the force of law and only Congress should make "laws". Oh wait, THEY make too many of those too! :cry

Charlie

 

[Grumpy]

I wonder if the "Fishing Waste" provision would have any effect on the miles of dead "By-catch" fish etc. you find in the water behind a commercial dragger after a haul back?

M

 

[Will-C]

My thinking is there are enough laws in place right now. I mean you have state local and federal with more laws on the books already than they can enforce. Maybe they can go on break for awhile till the industry gets back on it's feet and you can save your money to be able to afford the 1000 dollar a gallon bottom paint and ship your boat to China to have it applied.

This just in from MSNBC,
"The Democratic leader said that the two sides have essentially agreed on the amount of money set to be cut from the long-term budget but that Republicans have drawn a line in the sand over “ideology” – including policy issues dealing with funding for Planned Parenthood and the Environmental Protection Agency".
My email must have worked, praying really works folks.
D.D.