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Thought this would be important to list members:
>>Dear BoatUS Member,
>>
>>For 34 years the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
>>exempted discharges from recreational boats from the Clean Water Act
>>permit system. Regretfully, a recent court ruling cancelled this permit
>>exemption. EPA is 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.
>>
>>We have been working behind the scenes with other boating organizations
>>to get the exemption reinstated for recreational boats. Fortunately, the
>>Recreational Boating Act of 2007 (H.R. 2550) has been introduced by
>>Representatives Gene Taylor (D-Miss) and Candice Miller (R-Mich) which
>>would protect recreational boats from being swept into this unnecessary
>>and expensive permitting system.
>>
>>It is critically important that H.R. 2550 be passed and your support is
>>essential. Please contact your Congressman and Senators TODAY and ask
>>that they co-sponsor or support H.R. 2550.
>>
>>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 monitoring your deck
>>runoff, grey water, bilge water, engine cooling water, and the use of
>>copper bottom paints.
>>
>>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.
>>
>>BoatUS has been a leader in educating boaters about Clean Boating
>>practices for more than a decade. Our nonprofit Foundation has funded
>>local education projects on invasive species prevention, helped develop
>>voluntary Clean Marina programs, and authored much of the country's Clean
>>Boating outreach. These positive education efforts are making a difference.
>>
>>Please ask your elected federal representatives to support H.R. 2550. It
>>is common-sense legislation. As you send your emails to your Members of
>>Congress, please copy BoatUS at
>><mailto:> . We'd also like to
>>ask you to send a copy of your correspondence to the EPA, so they can see
>>how this will affect citizens. However, please know that if you choose to
>>send it to EPA, it will become a part of the public record. EPA's email
>>is <mailto:> , and your email needs to
>>have a subject line with Docket ID No. OW-2007-0483.
>>
>>For More Information:
>>
>><http://smtpbulk.boatus.net/t?r=3&c=1622&l=198&ctl=BC5C:D254B7E3F6E0D365AA3C0EE4E20A8734>Click
>>here for Frequently Asked Questions
>>
>><http://smtpbulk.boatus.net/t?r=3&c=1622&l=198&ctl=BC5B:D254B7E3F6E0D365AA3C0EE4E20A8734>Click
>>here for a sample email letter
>>
>><http://smtpbulk.boatus.net/t?r=3&c=1622&l=198&ctl=BC5D:D254B7E3F6E0D365AA3C0EE4E20A8734>Click
>>here to easily send an email to your Members of Congress.
>>
>><http://smtpbulk.boatus.net/bin/ftaf?id=D254B7E3F6E0D365AA3C0EE4E20A8734>Forward
>>this Action Alert to your friends, your fishing and boat club, your
>>marina neighbors, and your local press!
>>
>>Thank you for your help.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Margaret Podlich
>>
>>BoatUS Government Affairs
>><mailto:>
>>703-461-2864 or 703-461-2878 x8363
A
Philip & Marilyn Lange
AE4OV & KD4JRC,
ORYOKI
Witness 35 Catamaran
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