Well, after I sent mine I got a "reply" as I suspect we all did. It sorta looks like a persoanl reply, but I'm pretty sure it was an auto reply. When I replied to the reply, to remind her about the recent vote that stopped the bill in its tracks by one single vote, I got a "message undeliverable" from the "postmaster"

Makes you wonder if she's actually interested at all.

Faz

Yes Smitty, it was discussed during the past year, but it never hurts to remind our representatives how we feel and how they need to protect us.

Good call to all involved to remind them.

Chuck P

Smitty,

You are probably hallucinating- Yes you did bring this up if my memory serves me right.

Russ

Didn't we all send this in last fall when I brought it up or am I hallucinating (err... hungover) after an Arkansas 4th of July holiday?

Smitty

Done

Done,

Russ

Mine just left a minute ago

Faz

Just sent mine off!   

did mine last night!

Thanks Glen, did it and fwd'd to a few extra friends.

Chuck P

Done!  And you were right Glen, it was easy and quick!  Thanks for bringing it to our attention again!

If you would like to contact your govt officials here is the easy way to do it. It took me 45 seconds.
http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx

ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 1, 2008 - In response to a federal court order, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a draft permit for millions of recreational vessels for "normal operational discharges" that could open a Pandora's box of compliance problems and unfairly subject recreational boaters - including those who own canoes and kayaks - to potential nuisance lawsuits.

The EPA draft puts boaters and anglers squarely under new Clean Water Act regulations that go into effect September 30, 2008.  The permit requires boaters to comply with a set of worrisome national requirements as well as additional state requirements "to be determined."  Penalties carry up to a $32,500 daily fine for each violation.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) is urging all boaters and anglers to contact their federal lawmakers to bring corrective legislation to the Senate and House floor for a full vote as soon as possible.  The Clean Boating Act of 2008 - S. 2766 in the Senate and H.R. 5949 in the House of Representatives - would restore the federal exemption for recreational vessels for "normal operational discharges" that has been in existence for the past 35 years until the federal courts recently determined otherwise.

"Boaters want clean waters and want to do their fair share, but the draft EPA permit unfairly burdens them with needless regulation," said BoatU.S. Vice President of Government Affairs Margaret Podlich. "The federal courts required EPA to draft a permitting regime that puts individual boaters under the same penalty system as corporate industries even though discharges from a rowing dinghy or motor boat are quite different than those from a large commercial ship with ballast water," said Podlich.

The draft permit would allow the EPA, the U.S. Coast Guard, a state authority or some private contractor to inspect a boat and take discharge samples.  If requested, a boater would be required to provide such government officials with information to determine permit compliance.

"What may appear quite simple on the surface will be anything but in reality," said Podlich.  "What happens if a neighbor - who perhaps may not appreciate boats - decides that you use too much biodegradable soap to wash your boat, witnesses an accidentally spilled orange juice draining out of the scuppers, or sees you wipe algae off the scum line?  Under the present draft permit guidelines, all of these instances may be deemed a violation of the Clean Water Act," added Podlich.  "Even topping off a fuel tank, which is recommended for winter storage of today's ethanol-laden gasoline, could be considered a violation," she added.

Also included in the draft EPA permit is the onerous requirement that every state must approve the federal permit before this September 30.  Each state may add on its own regulations, potentially creating multiple requirements for boaters cruising between states.  After the initial permit this fall, the EPA will then outline for the states how they can implement their own permit systems, which could result in additional state modifications of the permit requirements as well as fees for boaters.

To contact your federal legislators, learn more about the Clean Boating Act of 2008, or to make comments on the draft EPA permit by August 1 go to http://www.BoatBlue.org or http://www.BoatUS.com/gov