| The LaPorte Area Lake Association |
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Clear Lake Fishtrap Lake Lily Lake Lower Lake Pine Lake Stone Lake
| Get the word out about reducing non-point source pollution! Check out this new PSA created by IDEM’s Office of Water Quality. It puts a humorous spin on an important message. http://www.in.gov/idem/programs/water/video/index.html |
Recreational boating is one of the most enjoyable American
pastimes for 73 million boaters nationwide to spend time together
outside enjoying our natural treasures with friends and family.
But, unless Congressional action is taken soon to pass H.R. 2550,
the Recreational Boating Act of 2007, the estimated 18 million
recreational boats in this country could be subjected to sweeping
new regulations and permit requirements intended for commercial
ships with ballast water tanks, preventing boaters from enjoying
this great past time.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June
20, 2007, that they will begin moving forward with a new and
unprecedented permitting scheme for recreational boats to comply
with a September 2006 landmark ballast water court ruling.
Under the ruling, EPA will have to devise a permitting scheme by
September 30, 2008, for engine cooling water, bilge water, gray
water, and deck runoff from recreational boats previously
exempted under the Clean Water Act.
For 34 years recreational vessels have been exempted by EPA
from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permits for these �effluents� deemed normal to
the operation of vessels. These permits are more commonly
applied to large commercial sites and water treatment facilities.
However, the court struck this exemption down because it also
exempted ballast water discharges from large ocean going
commercial ships that have introduced damaging aquatic invasive
species into U.S. waters for many years through their ballast
water discharges. The court�s decision was intended to
protect the environment and local communities, but it will now
unfortunately toss recreational boats into the same category as
commercial cargo ships. This was clearly never the intention of
the law, or the EPA.
pastimes for 73 million boaters nationwide to spend time together
outside enjoying our natural treasures with friends and family.
But, unless Congressional action is taken soon to pass H.R. 2550,
the Recreational Boating Act of 2007, the estimated 18 million
recreational boats in this country could be subjected to sweeping
new regulations and permit requirements intended for commercial
ships with ballast water tanks, preventing boaters from enjoying
this great past time.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on June
20, 2007, that they will begin moving forward with a new and
unprecedented permitting scheme for recreational boats to comply
with a September 2006 landmark ballast water court ruling.
Under the ruling, EPA will have to devise a permitting scheme by
September 30, 2008, for engine cooling water, bilge water, gray
water, and deck runoff from recreational boats previously
exempted under the Clean Water Act.
For 34 years recreational vessels have been exempted by EPA
from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permits for these �effluents� deemed normal to
the operation of vessels. These permits are more commonly
applied to large commercial sites and water treatment facilities.
However, the court struck this exemption down because it also
exempted ballast water discharges from large ocean going
commercial ships that have introduced damaging aquatic invasive
species into U.S. waters for many years through their ballast
water discharges. The court�s decision was intended to
protect the environment and local communities, but it will now
unfortunately toss recreational boats into the same category as
commercial cargo ships. This was clearly never the intention of
the law, or the EPA.
| ALERT! Take Action Now Before we need a permit to bilge our boats! |
| Don't Burden Boaters with Unnecessary, Complex, and Onerous Ballast Water Permits! Tell Congress, "Support the Recreational Boating Act of 2007 (H.R. 2550/S. 2067)" Click here to be taken to a letter that will auto-email your state officials. http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx |
| ALERT! WEED CONTROL 2nd TREATMENT WEDNESDAY, JULY 8th, 2008 |