“The most important thing from our standpoint is that the public realizes, and Congress realizes, the critical nature of this issue,” Scott Gudes, vice president of government relations for the NMMA, told Soundings Trade Only. “It is absolutely absurd to have an onerous federal permit system just to operate one’s boat.”

Gudes also noted the importance of having a cross section of legislators from both parties supporting the bill.

The issue of new federal permits stems from a September 2006 U.S. District Court ruling that ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate ballast water discharges, and mandated a deadline of September 2008 to put it in place.

Although the litigation was aimed at ocean-going vessels, the court’s ruling struck down an exemption that applied to the incidental discharges from all vessels, including recreational boats, since 1973.

The Clean Boating Act was introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Others co-sponsoring the legislation are: David Vitter, R-La.; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.; Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Larry Craig, R-Idaho; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; George Voinovich, R-Ohio; Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Richard Burr, R-N.C.; Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Evan Bayh, D-Ind. and Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

The bill is in the Environment and Public Works Committee and needs a favorable report to move to the full Senate. From there, it would need the support of the U.S. House of Representatives before going to President George W. Bush for a signature.

For information about the Clean Boating Act of 2008, go to www.boatblue.org.