I'm not a flak for BoatUS, but having just received the below note, I thought it important to pass it on to the group: "Your voice counts! And we need it to make sure the Recreational Boating Act of 2007 is passed quickly. Without this federal legislation you will need to apply and pay for a discharge permit to legally operate each of your boats, starting September 30, 2008. Please take a few minutes and contact your one Representative and two Senators, even if you have already done so. We need them to support and co-sponsor "The Recreational Boating Act of 2007" (House Bill #2550 and Senate Bill #2067)...." Read the entire message at the link below. Please consider taking whatever action you think appropriate.
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I don't feel like bailing out the EPA.
The EPA was granting exemptions at their discretion to commercial shipping and others. When a federal judge pointed out they had no legal authority to grant any exemptions they attempted to validate their actions by bringing in the weight of numbers associated with recreational boats. The judge did not buy the argument and since they brought the point up ordered them to come up with a permit and inspection system for pleasure boats as well. Everyone knows this is ridiculous but the judge did his job upholding the law as written. Now it is up to the legislators to properly ammend the law. I would think the EPA would be elocuent enough without our support the get proper legislation passed but to be honest I don't trust that they care so let's get out there and write to our legislators so that they can shine in upholding our rights. This is one of the few cases where it will be a win and win situation for all concerened. The EPA will left off the hook for conducting an impossible task, the legislators will will shine and profit come next elections and we the innocent bystanders will not need to get our pockets picked to sustain one more purposeless bureacracy. I have no doubt they will get it done.
The EPA was granting exemptions at their discretion to commercial shipping and others. When a federal judge pointed out they had no legal authority to grant any exemptions they attempted to validate their actions by bringing in the weight of numbers associated with recreational boats. The judge did not buy the argument and since they brought the point up ordered them to come up with a permit and inspection system for pleasure boats as well. Everyone knows this is ridiculous but the judge did his job upholding the law as written. Now it is up to the legislators to properly ammend the law. I would think the EPA would be elocuent enough without our support the get proper legislation passed but to be honest I don't trust that they care so let's get out there and write to our legislators so that they can shine in upholding our rights. This is one of the few cases where it will be a win and win situation for all concerened. The EPA will left off the hook for conducting an impossible task, the legislators will will shine and profit come next elections and we the innocent bystanders will not need to get our pockets picked to sustain one more purposeless bureacracy. I have no doubt they will get it done.
You know...
...this reminds me of something that happened a few years back. Dept. of Transportation issued HazMat regs for compressed gases. Industry sent out "Action Alerts" just like this to every fire department in the country, telling them, "act now or you will not be able to carry your air bottles to fires!" A lot of them fell for it, too.
...this reminds me of something that happened a few years back. Dept. of Transportation issued HazMat regs for compressed gases. Industry sent out "Action Alerts" just like this to every fire department in the country, telling them, "act now or you will not be able to carry your air bottles to fires!" A lot of them fell for it, too.
Benny -----
Do you really mean that the EPA will be sooooooo inundated by receiving all the checks and money orders that MUST be sent in with all these permit applications? ... and then wont have the time to issue fines for those who dont send in all that 'lucre'. Please tell me you dont really think this is so. Any time the 'government' does ANYTHING its the citizens who ALWAYS are the ones getting SCREWED. Unless YOU call/write your (usually worthless) congressional representative and 2 senators to vehemently protest this BS you can expect yet ANOTHER costly & worthless 'government' BOONDOGGLE that ultimately HARMS citizens/boaters .... just remember the inane 'Boat Luxury Tax" a few years ago that almost totally destroyed the US boat building industry !!!!!! Just remember how many YEARS we sent in totally needless $$$$$$$$$$$$$ before someone finally with a backbone in congress stopped the BS. WRITE/CALL your pols !!!!!
Do you really mean that the EPA will be sooooooo inundated by receiving all the checks and money orders that MUST be sent in with all these permit applications? ... and then wont have the time to issue fines for those who dont send in all that 'lucre'. Please tell me you dont really think this is so. Any time the 'government' does ANYTHING its the citizens who ALWAYS are the ones getting SCREWED. Unless YOU call/write your (usually worthless) congressional representative and 2 senators to vehemently protest this BS you can expect yet ANOTHER costly & worthless 'government' BOONDOGGLE that ultimately HARMS citizens/boaters .... just remember the inane 'Boat Luxury Tax" a few years ago that almost totally destroyed the US boat building industry !!!!!! Just remember how many YEARS we sent in totally needless $$$$$$$$$$$$$ before someone finally with a backbone in congress stopped the BS. WRITE/CALL your pols !!!!!
Letter I Sent Last Time
Here is a copy of the letter I sent to senators last time. I received a confirmation from both and from our rep too. Rick D. We are urging a YES vote on support H.R. 2550 “The Recreational Boating Act of 2007”. The legislation would restore the 34-year permit exemption for recreational boats within the Clean Water Act. In 2006, a U.S. District Court decision struck down the permit exemption. H.R. 2550 gives no other exemptions nor does it weaken or modify any existing requirements. It simply restores recreational boats to the pre-decision condition. Absent passage of this legislation, recreational boats will be subject to the same permitting processes as commercial shipping. The promugation of regulations, fee schedules and registration and monitoring programs will entail a costly and time-consuming diversion of important assets needed for our clean water efforts all across the United States. In our case, for example, we would have to file permits for a 40-foot sailboat, a 9-foot dinghy, an 8-foot inflatable boat and a 24-foot pontoon boat. This is a small example of what millions of owners of small craft would be subject to for no discernable benefit of our water quality. As boaters who gain their recreational enjoyment from water-based activities, we are acutely aware of the need to keep our waterways clean. We would like efforts targeted to do that and not waste the public’s time and effort on compliance with permitting targeting commercial shipping. Regards:
Here is a copy of the letter I sent to senators last time. I received a confirmation from both and from our rep too. Rick D. We are urging a YES vote on support H.R. 2550 “The Recreational Boating Act of 2007”. The legislation would restore the 34-year permit exemption for recreational boats within the Clean Water Act. In 2006, a U.S. District Court decision struck down the permit exemption. H.R. 2550 gives no other exemptions nor does it weaken or modify any existing requirements. It simply restores recreational boats to the pre-decision condition. Absent passage of this legislation, recreational boats will be subject to the same permitting processes as commercial shipping. The promugation of regulations, fee schedules and registration and monitoring programs will entail a costly and time-consuming diversion of important assets needed for our clean water efforts all across the United States. In our case, for example, we would have to file permits for a 40-foot sailboat, a 9-foot dinghy, an 8-foot inflatable boat and a 24-foot pontoon boat. This is a small example of what millions of owners of small craft would be subject to for no discernable benefit of our water quality. As boaters who gain their recreational enjoyment from water-based activities, we are acutely aware of the need to keep our waterways clean. We would like efforts targeted to do that and not waste the public’s time and effort on compliance with permitting targeting commercial shipping. Regards:
Rich, read the posting thoroughly
as we seem to be in agreement. More than likely the EPA would farm out the collecting of fees and compliance functions to the individual states. It is the state treasurers that would love that. They would set a up a 1rst class system for collection and a 3rd class inspection program. I think the ammendment bill as it stands has 45 cosponsors so I don't think we need to worry about it not passing but never the less I repeat "write to our legislators" even if for the wrong reasons.
as we seem to be in agreement. More than likely the EPA would farm out the collecting of fees and compliance functions to the individual states. It is the state treasurers that would love that. They would set a up a 1rst class system for collection and a 3rd class inspection program. I think the ammendment bill as it stands has 45 cosponsors so I don't think we need to worry about it not passing but never the less I repeat "write to our legislators" even if for the wrong reasons.
Yet Still Another Reason
To fire all those worthless SoB's that we elected to do a job that they did not. I plan on writing for support of the cause, plus I plan on NOT VOTING for any incumbents that are running for re-election. At least a virgin that we send in has not yet promised to do a job and not done it. But........they sure make sure to vote themselves nice hefty raises. FIRE them all and let's start with some fresh Congressional Representatives and Senators and hold them accountable. By doing this, we will make a profound statement to the new ones and those in mid-term seats to get on the ball, or plan on getting a new job the following election. That's my 2 cents worth.
To fire all those worthless SoB's that we elected to do a job that they did not. I plan on writing for support of the cause, plus I plan on NOT VOTING for any incumbents that are running for re-election. At least a virgin that we send in has not yet promised to do a job and not done it. But........they sure make sure to vote themselves nice hefty raises. FIRE them all and let's start with some fresh Congressional Representatives and Senators and hold them accountable. By doing this, we will make a profound statement to the new ones and those in mid-term seats to get on the ball, or plan on getting a new job the following election. That's my 2 cents worth.
What will they do if we ignore it?
The EPA can't get out of its own way now -- how will they handle a few million violators? That said, we really should make our opinions known to our legislators. Remember, they only live to serve us! Ya think?
The EPA can't get out of its own way now -- how will they handle a few million violators? That said, we really should make our opinions known to our legislators. Remember, they only live to serve us! Ya think?
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