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Clean Boating Act

  • April 06, 2011 6:12 AM
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    Message # 565248
    Anonymous member
    I signed up as an individual for a web discussion with EPA on their proposed new clean boating act.  It starts at 1800 Eastern Time today, April 6.  If any WOA members have points to make or questions for me to ask, please get them to me at dickandlibbymills@gmail.com before that time.   Sorry for the short advance notice, but there may be follow up sessions after tonight.

    Here are the hilighted topics.
    • Antifouling paints and zincs
    • Graywater (from showers and sinks)
    • Bilge water (with concern about oil and grease, which is already illegal to discharge)
    • Cleaning products/maintenance practices
    • Disposal of garbage and fishing waste
    • Transport of invasive specie
    The one that concerns me most is graywater.   I've thought about where to put a 15-20 gallon graywater holding tank on my W32, and I can't think how to do it reasonably.   My point is that new holding tank requirements should apply only to new vessels; old ones should be grandfathered.
  • April 06, 2011 6:45 AM
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    Reply # 565264 on 565248
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I like the grandfather part --- seems that cities can send millions of gallons of partially treated black water into the SF bay but boaters can't brush their teeth and empty the sink...

    Between these rules and the ever rising costs of slips, insurance, taxes et al... the small boat owner is being squeezed out of existance in the US and for what / whose benefit?

    Jay
  • April 06, 2011 4:25 PM
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    Reply # 565702 on 565248
    Anonymous member
    Well the webinar is over.  It wasn't very exciting or revealing.   

    Basically, all details regarding implementation of the Clean Boating Act are "yet to be determined".   Almost no details are available now.    

    They claim that this whole thing about regulating recreational boats was not their initiative, nor Congress' initiative but rather thrust upon them by a court.  The presenters and question answers tried to project the feeling that common sense and reasonableness will prevail at every step along the way.  That makes my antenna twang.  What are they really up to?

    One thing they did say.  There was a ton of questions about graywater.  They said that the idea of requiring boaters to hold graywater was not on the table at this time.  OK everyone, shout HOORAY, then start holding your breath.