Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 7)

Discharge Deadline Looming As reported industry groups in the January to create a viable issue of BoatU.S. solution before Magazine, the the impending court-imposed deadline. deadline for the Meanwhile, Environmental the EPA has Protection Agency developed a draft (EPA) to develop a permit proposal, discharge permit which should for all boats in the be available U.S. is Sept. 30. for public comStill pending in ment in February Congress is proor March. This Photo by Ocean Accessories/Swobbit Products posed federal legmay be the final islation, H.R. 2550 The simple act of washing your boat could qualify as opportunity for a “discharge” and require a permit unless the EPA is the public to help and S. 2067, allowed to continue to exempt recreational boaters. The Recreational influence what is Boating Act of 2007, which would provide required by this permit. While the proposal recreational boats with a permanent exemp- is not yet available, when it is published in tion to this permit requirement. the Federal Register, BoatU.S. Government The House bill now has 70 co-sponAffairs will send information to BoatU.S. sors, and the Senate bill 12 co-sponsors members via an e-mail Action Alert. (thanks to significant input by BoatU.S. The looming September deadline will members). However, in order to provide cause the EPA to have a short public comrelief for recreational boaters, this legislament period for this draft proposal. So boattion needs to gather some steam. BoatU.S. ers should be ready to send their comments continues to work with Congress and marine in to the EPA and Congress. ICW Gets Boost in Dredging Dollars Thanks to the concerted efforts of recreational boating and commercial maritime interests in lobbying Congress, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway got a significant increase in funds for dredging for fiscal year 2008. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers got $13.3 million to dredge the waterway, which is slightly more than double what the president had proposed in his budget for this year, reports David Roach, chairman of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association. “It’s especially good news for problem areas along the waterway in South Carolina and Georgia,” Roach added. “South Carolina hasn’t had any dredging money in the last two budget cycles and it’s been six long years for Georgia.” Corps of Engineers offices in the two states got $2.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively, for dredging. Roach noted that the welcome and much-needed increase is still far short of the $38 million investment that the waterway needs to remain viable. BoatU.S. is a charter member of AIWA. Visit atlintracoastal.org for more information. ink you don’t need accurate charts? Just wait until your electronics fail. Technology is not foolproof. That’s why serious boaters rely on multiple means of navigation, including paper charts. And they know only OceanGraﬁx offers fully updated charts – important insurance when the unexpected happens. OceanGraﬁx paper charts: - Get printed at the time you order - Are approved by NOAA and include their latest updates - Meet U.S. Coast Guard carriage requirements NOAA and BoatU.S. want you to boat safely! Try an up-to-date OceanGraﬁx paper chart through an exclusive BoatU.S. offer - only $15 (a $24.25 value) Go to: nauticalchartsonline.com and enter CODE BUS416E Offer expires June 30, 2008. www.oceangraﬁx.com (877) 562-4278 7 BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 http://atlintracoastal.org http://www.nauticalchartsonline.com/boatus http://www.nauticalchartsonline.com/boatus http://www.nauticalchartsonline.com/boatus

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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