Incidental Discharge Update

An eleventh hour appeal has resulted in Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) introducing a bill (S.2067) that in effect would amend a Federal judge’s ruling that lumps all water discharge from recreational vessels in with ballast discharge and would prohibit all of it under the Clean Water Act (unless granted an individual permit) beginning September 2008. Martinez’s bill, a Senate companion to H.R. 2550 previously introduced in the House of Representatives, would exempt incidental or accident discharge of water (gray, ballast or cooling) on recreational vessels. (See October’s Scuttlebutt and July’s View from the Pilothouse.)

“Requiring family boaters to secure a Clean Water Act permit so that they can wash their boat, fish or go waterskiing is ridiculous,” Martinez said. “This permit requirement is unnecessary and onerous. If allowed to take effect, it will be costly and essentially unenforceable.”

For more than 30 years, recreational vessels have been exempted from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for discharges deemed normal to the operation of vessels. Recently, in an attempt to regulate ballast water discharges from large commercial vessels, a U.S. District Court ordered that recreational boat owners also obtain a Clean Water Act permit. The Court also directed the EPA to create regulations governing recreational vessels by September 2008.

“Mobilizing the EPA to take on this needless [permitting] task would be a tremendous waste of resources,” Martinez concluded. “The court’s order is a solution in search of a problem, and I’m hopeful we can head it off before it takes effect.”

The Martinez exemption would cover normal, non-pollutant discharges such as bilge water, deck runoff and engine cooling water. The exemption would not remove or rollback environmental protections that currently prevent garbage, sewage, oil, or fuel pollutants from being discharged from a recreational vessel.

Joining Senator Martinez in introducing the bill are senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Trent Lott (R-MS), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and John Cornyn (R-TX).

Stuart’s Mooring Field to Stay

At presstime word came that Huizenga Holdings has been granted a lease on the City of Stuart (Florida) mooring field to the west of the Roosevelt Bridge on the St. Lucie River beginning February 1, 2008. Because Huizenga Holdings applied for a permit to build docks, the rumor mill exploded with the idea that the docks would replace the mooring field. Assistant harbormaster Ruth Conrad says the 100 slips for transient use will be in addition to the mooring field. Huizenga Holdings is also planning to build a waterfront restaurant adjacent to the slips.

Life Raft Recall Notice

At presstime word came of a recall of life rafts manufactured by BFA Marine, a Zodiac International company. The recall involves rafts made for the leisure market between 1997-2006. The recall involves overpressurization valves in Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic, and BFA/MX Offshore models, which could fail and cause the raft to sink. According to BFA, “It is imperative that owners of the identified BFA Leisure Life Rafts IMMEDIATELY return their rafts to the nearest BFA-approved dealer or service center in order for the valves to be inspected and potentially replaced.” The serial numbers of BFA life rafts are found either in the log card or on the valise/canister. The following serial numbered rafts are involved in this recall: rafts with five-digit serial numbers from 10001 to 50180; all rafts with 12-digit serial numbers beginning with “XDC.” Check bfa-marine.com for addresses of authorized service centers. The valve inspection and replacement is free.

IGFA Hall of Fame Inductees

Five inductees joined the 65 legendary anglers already enshrined in the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, Florida. The new inductees, honored October 19 for their contributions to game fishing, are: Homer Circle, Ruben Jaen, Gary Loomis, Peter B. Wright and Joan Salvato Wulff.

Eight Bells

Friends of Don Leek, especially those who knew him back in the days when he directed Pacemaker and Egg Harbor yachts, were saddened to learn he’d lost his battle with cancer this summer. Don’s father, C. P. Leek, founded Egg Harbor in 1946 and merged it with Pacemaker in the 1950s. Sold into corporate ownership, the company floundered. Don organized an investor group to buy the assests out of bankruptcy in 1980 and revamped the product line. Don was the ultimate family man and an all-around sportsman.