The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that more than $11.7 million will be awarded to 25 states under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program in 2011. The first Clean Vessel Act awards were made in 1993 and since then the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program has awarded more than $187 million to States for projects funding construction, replacement, renovation, and maintenance of facilities that assist recreational boaters in properly disposing of on-board septic waste. The program also provides information and education on the importance, benefits, and availability of pumpouts.
“Clean Vessel Act grants have a substantial economic impact on local communities and help support recreational boating operations that depend on clean water for a healthy environment,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould. “I am pleased that these efforts are put in place to benefit wildlife, sport fishing, recreational boating, and communities across America.”
Funds for the CVA program are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust fund. These funds are derived through the collection of fishing tackle manufacturer excise taxes and boat and fishing import duties as well as motorboat and small engine fuel taxes. The program supports the user-pay, user-benefit cycle that has led to the successes of the Sport Fish Restoration programs. States apply for CVA funding and their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas.
In addition to traditional on-dock pumpouts, projects include pumpout boats that travel in designated harbors to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient. Some States also have begun installing floating restrooms in areas where boaters congregate and no restrooms are available.
"The Clean Vessel Act is a critical tool in helping the states to maintain clean and healthy waters for people and wildlife alike," said Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Assistant Director Hannibal Bolton. "The pumpouts built through these funds ensure that clean drinking water, sustainable ecosystems, and healthy recreational areas will be accessible to both the American people and America’s Great Outdoors."
For more information on the 2011 grant awards made today visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA2011Funding.pdf.
For more information on the CVA program visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Boaters Need To Be Heard on New EPA Requirements
BoatUS Urges Boaters To Be Heard on New EPA Requirements
Deadline for Public Comments is June 2
Now the Agency is asking boaters to speak up about how they operate and maintain their boat as it moves forward developing and eventually implementing those management practices. The deadline for comments is June 2.“Management Practices would be methods, techniques, or tools which could mitigate any environmental impact of normal discharges into our waters,” said BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Margaret Podlich. “They will vary according to boat type and what that vessel could potentially discharge. For example, the EPA is looking at engine maintenance and could create a management practice that requires the use of a bilge sock to soak up oil in your engine compartment. Of course, this couldn’t apply to a rowboat. But it’s important to understand they are looking at all recreational watercraft.”
Continued Podlich, “BoatUS has been working with boaters for years to help them understand how to minimize their impact while enjoying the water. We know that boaters are strong, clean boating advocates, and we firmly believe that any new mandatory management practices must be based in science, and should be practical, realistic, and economical. That’s why we need boaters to speak out now.”
To hear boater’s concerns and suggestions, the EPA has set up two ways to communicate:
1. Boaters can be heard at the agency’s alternative weekly online webinars that started March 21 and end April 25. To find out the dates and to register for these online listening sessions go to:
2. Boaters can also email the EPA directly at CleanBoatingAct-HQ@EPA.GOV up until June 2.
The EPA is looking at several broad categories of vessel discharges including the use of anti-fouling paints and zincs, grey water (from showers and sinks), bilge water (with concern about oil and grease, which is already illegal to discharge), the use of cleaning products, disposal of garbage and fishing waste, and the transport of invasive species.
The Clean Boating Act law requires the EPA to consider many factors when developing these management practices, including the type of the discharge and its environmental affect, any effects on operation or safety, economic costs, international standards, and applicability to state or federal law.
The Agency also held a listening session in Annapolis, MD, which BoatUS attended. “The EPA shared with us that they expect to use some of the more common clean boating techniques already found in some areas,” said Podlich. “However, no specific proposal or required action was presented, so more details are elusive. As a result, boaters need to stay tuned to what EPA is planning and make their voices heard in these listening sessions.”
For more information on the Clean Boating Act of 2008, go to www.BoatUS.com/gov/cba.
For clean boating tips and techniques visit the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water's clean boating web page at BoatUS.com/foundation/cleanwater.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)