Chuck Gould wrote:
To my conservative friends, please look beyond the fact that this
amendment is sponsored by a Democrat and if your senator serves on the
Senate Commerce Committee please consider urging her or him to support
the amendment. Voting is scheduled for early this PM. Thanks.....
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.
Sincerely,
Margaret Podlich
BoatUS Government Affairs
703-461-2864 or 703-461-2878 x8363
*****
Where does it confine the postponement to just recreational boats?
Looks like a scam to allow the ontinued dumping of zebra musssels, spiny
water fleas, round gobys et al in the great lakes.
--
Del Cecchi
"This post is my own and doesn’t necessarily represent IBM’s positions,
strategies or opinions.”