SR-179, As Adopted by Senate, April 24, 2008

            Senators Kuipers, McManus, Stamas, Brown, Van Woerkom, Garcia and Jansen offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 179.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Clean Boating Act of 2008.

            Whereas, In September 2006, the U.S. Northern District Court of California issued a ruling that required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate ballast water discharges. Ocean-going vessels moving from port to port are largely responsible for the spread of aquatic invasive species through the discharge of ballast water. Although intended to address only ballast water discharges from ocean-going vessels, the court ruling encompassed all discharges from all vessels, including recreational boats. Under the ruling, all vessels would be required to have a federal permit for discharges to the water beginning September 2008; and

            Whereas, Recreational boat discharges are already regulated under numerous federal and state laws. Non-polluting, incidental discharges such as weather deck runoff, grey water, uncontaminated bilge water, and engine coolant water should not require a federal permit. These discharges occur during the normal operation of a recreational vessel and are completely different from the discharges of a commercial ship that were intended to be affected by the District Court ruling; and

            Whereas, With almost 1 million registered recreational boats, Michigan is one of the top boating states in the nation. With 40,000 square miles of Great Lakes waters and thousands of inland lake boating opportunities, boating is one of the largest outdoor recreational activities in which our residents take part. Requiring Michigan recreational boat owners to obtain the federal discharge permit will be a huge economical burden and inconvenience to Michigan boat owners; and

            Whereas, Congress has before it the Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S. 2766), which will restore the 35-year-old EPA exemption for these non-polluting discharges from recreational vessels. Immediate action on S. 2766 will prevent owners of small, recreational boats from having to purchase the same, expensive discharge permits required of commercial vessels beginning in September; <<now, therefore, be it and

            Whereas, It is critical that owners and operators of recreational boats must continue to abide by Michigan Department of Natural Resources' recommendations for the proper treatment of their vessels, including voluntary practices such as a thorough washing of their vessels when moving from one body of water to another to minimize the risk of the spread of invasive species; now, therefore, be it>>

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Clean Boating Act of 2008; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.