Boaters must read VERY IMPORTANT

[Chad S.]

I posted this in the main thread, but it's such a big deal so I'm posting it here also:
http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx (http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx)

[1bigfish]

I'm right behind you Chad.

This is very important. If you own a boat with a motor this WILL affect you!!!

Important facts about the permit:
<LI class=newscopy>All boats need a permit when in the “waters of the United States” in all states and territories, and extending into the ocean 3 miles. <LI class=newscopy>You must allow EPA, their contractor, the USCG, or state authority to inspect your vessel, and take discharge samples. <LI class=newscopy>If you don’t comply with the permit requirements, each day is a separate Clean Water Act violation and each violation is subject to a $32,500 penalty.
You may be sued under the Clean Water Act citizen lawsuit provisions.You can read more about it here...
http://www.boatus.com/gov/

Please take the time to read this. I know it is a pain but it is important.

[arkansasbasser]

Same old story. Big brother is regulating us to death. Not just fishing but in every aspect of life. Next it will be punching a card for bass and taking them to a check station. Maybe they will take an aluminum sample of your boat to test aluminum leaching into the water from your boat. It's not boaters doing the pollution on the rivers, but then we are not paying them to look the other way like big industry is.

[Hunt'nFish]

Normally I'd feel the same way as you, but after following some of the stories on the invasive aquatic species and what the impact could be on the Columbia, Willy and our other rivers & lakes, I'm inclined to agree with the EPA's levels of concern.

With a ratio of 99,000 commercial vessels to 18 Million recreational vessels, I'm not sure we can simply say it's all the commercials fault. All our 18 million rec vessels contribute probably MORE to the overall problem than we think. Will a permit and regs change that?.....NO, probably not. Will education and awareness? Yes, probably so.

I didn't use to care if some weeds were hanging off my prop or trailer when I pulled out of the launch. I do now. Sure many of the ballast water issues concerning zera mussels, mosses and other invasives don't apply to us small rec boat owners, but it does to wake board boats w/ ballast tanks. However I've heard that there is just as much concern over livewells as ballast tanks. And of course every drop of oil and gas we loose to the water does add up.....all 18 Million of us.

But to simply make a blanket EPA permit system w/o the education & awareness to the problems at stake, seems unproductive and irresponsible.
And simply passing a Bill which has so many exemptions for rec boats as well as commericial boats as to render the EPA's goals & requirements useless also seems irresponsible. I aplaud the Alaskian Congresswoman for standing up and saying "Whoa...wait a sec" on the commerical exemptions.

This is a very complex issue, and my hope is that the Oregon Marine Board is sitting at the table and proactive at protecting Oregon's waterways from invasives as well as boating pollutants.

As for me, I've voiced my concerns to Senators Smith & Wyden. But I also think we need to be banging on the Marine Board's door, voicing our concerns and demanding updates as to their postion, concerns and actions. Rec boaters and the Marine Board should have the same goals in mind; minimal restrictions, permits and such, with maximum awareness and edcation. I do not see any reason that Oregon couldn't add some EPA education requirements to the registration process w/o the need for an EPA permit. That EPA permit is simply non-sense as far as I'm concerned.
Hunt'nFish

[1bigfish]

This just in from the community page...

EPA permits will not be required for recreational boats

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=2100618#post2100618

It is over and we have won.