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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