Press Release: March 11, 2008

PASADENA, MD - On Tuesday, March 4^th, at the monthly board meeting, the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association, Inc. (MSSA) agreed to a resolution supporting H.R. 2550/S.B. 2067 which will reinstate a long standing EPA exemption for recreational vessels regarding deck runoff and other non-pollutant discharge. If this legislation is not passed you will need to purchase a permit just to wash your boat.

 The exemption would include any deck runoff from a recreational vessel, any engine cooling water, gray water, bilge water, laundry, shower, and galley sink wastes, or any other discharge incidental to the normal operation of a recreational vessel. This exemption does not apply to trash, garbage, or any other such materials discharged overboard by a recreational vessel, whereas these are already monitored very closely.

 For the past 34 years the EPA has recognized that everyday runoff, bilge water, gray water, and engine cooling water were not the same as a commercial vessel discharging millions of gallons of foreign bilge water into U.S. waters. Therefore having two separate thresholds in determining permit requirements were needed. Simply put this is not an issue where a “one size fits all” approach will work.

 This is a time for Congress to remember why they delegate power to agencies and recognize EPA’s expertise in this issue and realize the EPA exempted recreational boaters for a reason.

 We encourage all our members to contact their Congressman or Representative on this matter.