Dear YachtWorld Member,

You may have read about the Clean Boating Act (S.2766) that is before the U.S. Congress.  Getting this bill passed is critical for boaters and the recreational boating industry in the United States. Visit http://www.boatblue.org/ for webcasts, public meetings, NMMA Fact Sheet and to find out what you can do to protect recreational boating and your industry.

If Congress fails to pass this bill or the House version (H.R.5949) by September 30 of this year, then all 17 million recreational vessels will:

• Be covered under a new National Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Federal Government. The permit is 15 pages long and there is another 45 page document just to explain the permit. Boaters will “automatically” be covered under the new permit without even knowing that they are covered or what is required unless they understand all the specific obligations outlined in the two documents.
• Be swept up in a federal and state permitting regime for their weather run-off, bilge water, engine cooling water, and other incidental water discharges. Penalties for non-compliance are $32,500 per day per violation and citizen lawsuits.