Capt. Keith Wils
03-02-2011, 05:36 AM
Subject: EPA to conduct listening sessions for new boating regulations
Fisheries and Water Resources Policy Committee Members:
Please see below regarding upcoming listening sessions and webinars related to implementation of the Clean Boating Act.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would like to invite you to participate in public listening sessions and webinars regarding implementation of the Clean Boating Act (CBA, Public Law 110-288). As you may know, EPA is developing and planning to propose new regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) that would affect the owners and operators of recreational vessels (i.e., any water craft manufactured or used primarily for pleasure). The CBA creates a new section 402(r) of the CWA that excludes discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting requirements. In addition, it added a new CWA section 312(o) directing EPA to develop an initial set of regulations that identify the discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels (other than a discharge of sewage), for which it is reasonable and practicable to develop management practices (MPs). The MPs are designed to mitigate adverse impacts on waters of the United States and waters of the contiguous zone from, for example, aquatic nuisance species and discharges of bilgewater and graywater.
While EPA is developing MPs for a variety of recreational vessel discharges, EPA believes a key component of this process is obtaining input from the public, boaters, state agencies, and other stakeholders. Consequently, we are planning to hold listening sessions and conduct webinars to inform those interested about the CBA and receive input from them. The listening sessions will be held in Annapolis, MD on March 18th and April 29th. Webinars will be conducted during the intervening weeks. Additionally, we are looking for other opportunities to communicate our plans and receive information and recommendations from other interested parties. If you have suggestions of conferences or other events that would be appropriate forums for an EPA representative to give a briefing on the CBA, we would appreciate hearing from you.
We welcome you to share this information with your agency's membership. For more information about the CBA, please visit our website at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm or you may contact Brian Rappoli by phone at (202)-566-1548 or by email at cleanboatingact-hq@epa.gov
Thank you,
Paul Cough
Director, Ocean and Coastal Protection Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jim Dexter
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator
621 North 10th Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269)685-6851 extension 116
Fisheries and Water Resources Policy Committee Members:
Please see below regarding upcoming listening sessions and webinars related to implementation of the Clean Boating Act.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would like to invite you to participate in public listening sessions and webinars regarding implementation of the Clean Boating Act (CBA, Public Law 110-288). As you may know, EPA is developing and planning to propose new regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) that would affect the owners and operators of recreational vessels (i.e., any water craft manufactured or used primarily for pleasure). The CBA creates a new section 402(r) of the CWA that excludes discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting requirements. In addition, it added a new CWA section 312(o) directing EPA to develop an initial set of regulations that identify the discharges incidental to the normal operation of recreational vessels (other than a discharge of sewage), for which it is reasonable and practicable to develop management practices (MPs). The MPs are designed to mitigate adverse impacts on waters of the United States and waters of the contiguous zone from, for example, aquatic nuisance species and discharges of bilgewater and graywater.
While EPA is developing MPs for a variety of recreational vessel discharges, EPA believes a key component of this process is obtaining input from the public, boaters, state agencies, and other stakeholders. Consequently, we are planning to hold listening sessions and conduct webinars to inform those interested about the CBA and receive input from them. The listening sessions will be held in Annapolis, MD on March 18th and April 29th. Webinars will be conducted during the intervening weeks. Additionally, we are looking for other opportunities to communicate our plans and receive information and recommendations from other interested parties. If you have suggestions of conferences or other events that would be appropriate forums for an EPA representative to give a briefing on the CBA, we would appreciate hearing from you.
We welcome you to share this information with your agency's membership. For more information about the CBA, please visit our website at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm or you may contact Brian Rappoli by phone at (202)-566-1548 or by email at cleanboatingact-hq@epa.gov
Thank you,
Paul Cough
Director, Ocean and Coastal Protection Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jim Dexter
Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator
621 North 10th Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269)685-6851 extension 116