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From Boat/US

April 1, 2005 NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTO AVAILABLE

BoatU.S. Foundation's Top Ten Earth Day Tips For
Filling Up At The Pump

In honor of Earth Day (April 22) and as part of its National Clean
Fueling Campaign "Help Stop the Drops," the BoatU.S. Foundation for
Boating Safety & Clean Water urges boaters to take a few simple steps
this summer to reduce small accidental spills while filling up at the
pump.

"A few drops here, a little splash there. Collectively over time,
fuel
spills add up," said Margaret Podlich, Assistant Vice President,
BoatU.S. Foundation. "By following these top ten tips, you'll avoid
embarrassment, environmental damage and potential costly fines that
can
accompany fuel spills," she added.

The Foundation's "Help Stop the Drops" National Clean Fueling
Campaign
seeks to prevent unintentional fuel spills by working with boaters
and
marinas to adopt smart fueling habits. To learn more about clean
fueling and fuel conservation tips, read the Foundation Findings
Report, "Spill? What Spill?" at http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation

The Foundation's Top Ten Tips for filling up at the pump a

1. Know how much fuel your boat holds and how much fuel you need.
This will help you avoid overfilling your tanks.
2. Turn off engines, electronics, and extinguish all open flames
such as stoves or cigarettes.
3. Before you start pumping, put passengers ashore and close all
hatches, ports and doors so fumes do not collect in the bilge or
cabin.
4. Maintain consistent contact between the fuel nozzle and the
deck
fill - and if refilling a portable fuel tank, remove it from the boat
and fill it on the dock. Both measures prevent sparking.
5. Use an absorbent pad or donut around the deck fill to catch
backsplash and attach a temporary collection device to your hull to
catch overflow from the tank vent.
6. Hold on to the nozzle and don't rely on the hands-free clip or
automatic shut-off device. They often don't react in time.
7. Fuel slowly, and listen for a change in tone as the tank gets
full.
8. Fuel stored underground at the marina and pumped into your
boat's
tanks will expand on a hot summer day, so resist topping off.
9. If a few drops hit the water, do not use detergents to disperse
a
spill. This is more harmful to the environment than if left
untreated.
Besides, it's against the law.
10. After fueling, turn your blower on for three to five minutes
and
sniff for fumes.

The BoatU.S Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a
national
501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research organization primarily
funded by the voluntary contributions of 580,000 members of BoatU.S.,
the nation's largest recreational boat owners association. The
Foundation operates more than a dozen programs including the only
accredited, free, online general boating safety course, a low-cost
EPIRB rental program, the "Help Stop the Drops" National Clean
Fueling
Campaign, a free kid's Life Jacket Loaner program, and grants for
nonprofit groups for boating safety and environmental projects.

But people don't do anything to harm the environment, Chuck, just ask
Fritz!