" For Immediate Release Contact:
Jerry Desmond, Jr.
916.441.4166
RBOC Continuing Boater “call-to-arms" on Marina Permit Proposal
Sacramento [February 26] – the boating advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California
[RBOC] is urging boaters to continue with their letters, calls and emails in opposition to the Water Board marina permit proposal.
“Boater opposition is definitely having an impact," stated RBOC President Anne Sacks of Venice, California, “and it is important that boaters state-wide voice their opposition now to this ill-advised proposal. RBOC is continuing our February 19 call-to-arms." Boaters are urged to take action: the February 19 RBOC Call-to-Arms is below.
The Water Board has been planning a mandatory, formal requirement that every coastal marina [including many inland marinas that are in “bays" and “estuaries"] obtain a permit and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to conduct expensive water quality testing and monitoring and report that information to the State. There are indications that the Water Board is considering the concerns that have been raised in advance of moving forward with a broad, burdensome, and costly permitting program.
RBOC is concerned that the proposed permit program is not based upon facts regarding the presence of specific pollutants in identified bodies of water, and it is not based upon the identification of the sources of any such pollutants. The program has not been developed through a transparent process with the participation of the recreational boating community.
RBOC is urging that the Water Board instead work with the boating community to pursue a fact and science-based approach that first identifies and then addresses pollution in marinas that is determined to be attributable to recreational vessels and marina operations. RBOC is the nonprofit governmental advocacy organization that works to protect and enhance the interests of the state's recreational boaters before the legislative and executive branches of state and local government. RBOC is in its 42nd year as a statewide organization, and since 1968 it has continued its commitment to promoting the enjoyment, protection, and responsible use of our waterways. "
"RBOC is urging boaters to sign and submit the attached letter, opposing the proposal of the California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB] to establish a statewide requirement that marinas and clubs with 10 or more slips and moorings obtain a state permit [termed a Coastal Marina Permit] and comply with many new requirements including extensive testing and reporting at a projected annual cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Boaters statewide should be concerned and take action. The use of the word “coastal" in the permit name is a misnomer. The text of the proposal states that it would be required of moorings and marinas located not only along the coast but in bays, estuaries, and certain fresh water mixing zones such as the San-Joaquin Delta. The scope could also be expanded as the proposal moves forward.
RBOC is working on this critical issue in cooperation with allied partners including Bay Planning Coalition, BoatU.S., California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains, California Marine Parks and Harbors Association, California Yacht Brokers Association, Marina and Recreation Association, and Western Boaters Safety Group. The SWRCB plans to conduct stakeholder workshops in March, to receive public comments in April, and to vote upon the permit in November of 2010. The exact dates, times and locations of the stakeholder workshops have not yet been set, but plans are for workshops to be in San Diego, Ventura, and Francisco.
What clubs should do:
• Distribute the Sample Letter to your Members, for them to sign and send to RBOC by fax [916.441.3520] or mail: RBOC, 925 L Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814. RBOC will deliver the letters.
• Become Familiar with the Proposal and Its Impact, by reviewing the pertinent documents posted at www.swrcb.ca.gov and www.rboc.org.
• Keep Informed of Developments and Attend Workshops as this information becomes available, and speak out against this proposal.
RBOC is a nonprofit boater advocacy organization that works to protect and enhance the interests of the state's recreational boaters before the legislative and executive branches of state and
local government. RBOC is in its 42st year as a statewide organization promoting the enjoyment,
protection, and responsible use of our waterways. Visit www.rboc.org for more information about RBOC and this issue."
see next posting for letter to the governor.
Jerry Desmond, Jr.
916.441.4166
RBOC Continuing Boater “call-to-arms" on Marina Permit Proposal
Sacramento [February 26] – the boating advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California
[RBOC] is urging boaters to continue with their letters, calls and emails in opposition to the Water Board marina permit proposal.
“Boater opposition is definitely having an impact," stated RBOC President Anne Sacks of Venice, California, “and it is important that boaters state-wide voice their opposition now to this ill-advised proposal. RBOC is continuing our February 19 call-to-arms." Boaters are urged to take action: the February 19 RBOC Call-to-Arms is below.
The Water Board has been planning a mandatory, formal requirement that every coastal marina [including many inland marinas that are in “bays" and “estuaries"] obtain a permit and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to conduct expensive water quality testing and monitoring and report that information to the State. There are indications that the Water Board is considering the concerns that have been raised in advance of moving forward with a broad, burdensome, and costly permitting program.
RBOC is concerned that the proposed permit program is not based upon facts regarding the presence of specific pollutants in identified bodies of water, and it is not based upon the identification of the sources of any such pollutants. The program has not been developed through a transparent process with the participation of the recreational boating community.
RBOC is urging that the Water Board instead work with the boating community to pursue a fact and science-based approach that first identifies and then addresses pollution in marinas that is determined to be attributable to recreational vessels and marina operations. RBOC is the nonprofit governmental advocacy organization that works to protect and enhance the interests of the state's recreational boaters before the legislative and executive branches of state and local government. RBOC is in its 42nd year as a statewide organization, and since 1968 it has continued its commitment to promoting the enjoyment, protection, and responsible use of our waterways. "
"RBOC is urging boaters to sign and submit the attached letter, opposing the proposal of the California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB] to establish a statewide requirement that marinas and clubs with 10 or more slips and moorings obtain a state permit [termed a Coastal Marina Permit] and comply with many new requirements including extensive testing and reporting at a projected annual cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Boaters statewide should be concerned and take action. The use of the word “coastal" in the permit name is a misnomer. The text of the proposal states that it would be required of moorings and marinas located not only along the coast but in bays, estuaries, and certain fresh water mixing zones such as the San-Joaquin Delta. The scope could also be expanded as the proposal moves forward.
RBOC is working on this critical issue in cooperation with allied partners including Bay Planning Coalition, BoatU.S., California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains, California Marine Parks and Harbors Association, California Yacht Brokers Association, Marina and Recreation Association, and Western Boaters Safety Group. The SWRCB plans to conduct stakeholder workshops in March, to receive public comments in April, and to vote upon the permit in November of 2010. The exact dates, times and locations of the stakeholder workshops have not yet been set, but plans are for workshops to be in San Diego, Ventura, and Francisco.
What clubs should do:
• Distribute the Sample Letter to your Members, for them to sign and send to RBOC by fax [916.441.3520] or mail: RBOC, 925 L Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814. RBOC will deliver the letters.
• Become Familiar with the Proposal and Its Impact, by reviewing the pertinent documents posted at www.swrcb.ca.gov and www.rboc.org.
• Keep Informed of Developments and Attend Workshops as this information becomes available, and speak out against this proposal.
RBOC is a nonprofit boater advocacy organization that works to protect and enhance the interests of the state's recreational boaters before the legislative and executive branches of state and
local government. RBOC is in its 42st year as a statewide organization promoting the enjoyment,
protection, and responsible use of our waterways. Visit www.rboc.org for more information about RBOC and this issue."
see next posting for letter to the governor.