Steven Pham's Legal Blog

To all boaters, whether you are avid anglers, sail-boat lovers, water-ski and jet-ski owners, and to all water-craft owners alike, I am pleased to let all anglers and boaters know that effective as of July 29, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not be issuing pollution permits to non-commercial boat owners.  As of July 29, 2008, President Bush signed the Clean Boating Act.  While regulating commercial vessels, the Act precludes the regulation by the EPA on small, recreational water crafts.  As such, the EPA will revise its plan to for the permit systems that will be effective as of September 30, 2008 as the result of a court order after several environmental groups filed suit against the EPA in 1999, which the court’s decision was issued in late 2006. 

According to Sports Fishing Magazine, the Act affects approximately 17 million recreational boats in the U.S. from having to under-go the 5 years permits that was scheduled to be issued this September.  Without the Clean Boating Act, the owners of these relatively small recreational boats would have be stuck in another bureaucratic red-tape.  The cost for monitoring, issuing, and inspecting these permits would cost the federal and local government, as well as boaters, in the billions.  Should you have any questions as to whether your boat may be affected by the Act, please do not hesitate to contact me at www.smithgarglaw.com.