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| Federal Legislation that will affect all of us! https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1319 |
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| Author: | Giaccamo [ Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Federal Legislation that will affect all of us! |
September 26, 2007 Dear BoatUS Member, WE NEED YOU TO MAKE A PHONE CALL! Yesterday, BoatUS Government Affairs learned about a fast-moving opportunity that could offer a potential solution to the EPA boat discharge permit issue. We need you to pick up the phone and call your Senator (who serves on the 23-member Senate Commerce Committee), and urge them to vote "Yes" for Senator Nelson's amendment to Senate Bill 1578. This vote takes place on Thursday September 27 at 2:30 pm (Eastern time). It is critical that you call now. Background: As a result of a 2006 court decision, the EPA is required to develop and implement a permit system before September 30, 2008 for all normal operational discharges from every vessel in the U.S. Unfortunately, while the real focus of the court case was the ballast water and resulting aquatic nuisance species from ocean-going ships, every vessel in the U.S. was included in the EPA mandate. BoatUS has been working with others in the boating industry to pass federal legislation (H.R. 2550 and S. 2067) to exempt recreational boats from this permit. (For more information see http://www.boatus.com/gov/dischargepermits.asp). Senator Nelson's amendment offers another opportunity to address this problem. What is Senator Nelson's Amendment? Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 1578 (The Ballast Water Management Act of 2007). The amendment would require a study on the incidental discharges from vessels, and an exemption from federal permitting for all normal operational discharges from vessels (except aquatic nuisance species). Existing restrictions on the overboard discharge of oil/fuel, garbage, and sewage would remain. So what do I need to do? Right now, call your federal Senator (listed below). Tell the person answering the phone you are calling in reference to Senate Bill 1578. Ask the Senator (or their staff) to vote "Yes" for the Nelson Amendment to Senate Bill 1578 on Ballast Water. Help them know the urgent timing - the vote is at 2:30 Thursday (Eastern time) at the Commerce Committee markup in room SR 253.) Help them understand how important boating is to you and your family. Help them know your concern if this amendment does not pass and you are required to have a permit for each of your boats, in each state where you want to boat. Quickly forward this email to your boating friends and club members. (Some Senate offices close at 6 pm, and some will have answering machines. If your call doesn't go through on Wednesday night, please try again in the morning.) Senate Commerce Committee Members: Vice Chairman Ted Stevens Alaska (202)224-3004 Senator John McCain Arizona (202)224-2235 Senator Mark Pryor Arkansas (202)224-2353 Senator Barbara Boxer California (202)224-3553 Senator Thomas Carper Delaware (202)224-2441 Chairman Daniel Inouye Hawaii (202)224-3934 Senator David Vitter Louisiana (202)224-4623 Senator Olympia J. Snowe Maine (202)224-5344 Senator John F. Kerry Massachusetts (202)224-2742 Senator Amy Klobuchar Minnesota (202)224-3244 Senator Trent Lott Mississippi (202)224-6253 Senator Claire McCaskill Missouri (202)224-6154 Senator John Ensign Nevada (202)224-6244 Senator John Sununu New Hampshire (202)224-2841 Senator Frank Lautenberg New Jersey (202)224-3224 Senator Byron Dorgan North Dakota (202)224-2551 Senator Gordon Smith Oregon (202)224-3753 Senator Jim De Mint South Carolina (202)224-6121 Senator John Thune South Dakota (202)224-2321 Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson Texas (202)224-5922 Senator Maria Cantwell Washington (202)224-3441 Senator John D. Rockefeller West Virginia (202)224-6472 Thanks for your continued support in helping boating! Sincerely, Margaret Podlich BoatUS Government Affairs GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com 703-461-2864 or 703-461-2878 x8363 |
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| Author: | jvalich [ Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Interesting regarding Nelson. I emailed him and Putnum directly about 2 months ago. Nelson was not very concerned and in the message stated he was concern about one thing, "thermal" pollution by the cooling water. I'll have to actually read the ammendment before I make a decision. Thermal pollution from my engine...give me a break! Hey, wouldn't that actually be good for the manatee in the ares...they like warm water. |
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