ABC focuses on environmental issues
By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon
The NMMA's annual American Boating Congress (ABC) began Monday with speakers that included the head Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as two US Senators. The opening day had sessions on water access, environmental policies, recent EPA regulations, and economic policies. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson told a full room of marine manufacturers and marine trade association officials that his agency would continue to work together with the marine industry. "We are actively working with our partners to keep environmental progress moving ahead at full throttle," said Johnson. "The recreational boating industry continues to be a leader in the race to go green." But the EPA chief also mentioned environmental challenges facing the industry, including aquatic invasive species and ballast discharges. Johnson also said that further emissions cuts in marine engines would be mandated, and that by 2030, the engines would have to reduce emissions by 70 per cent over current levels. Johnson said that would result in savings of US$3.4 billion in public health benefits, prevent hundreds of premature deaths, and save 190 million gallons of fuel each year. "What is good for public health will also be good for your wallet," he said. Johnson also touched on a US district court case that, if unchecked, will require his agency to issue permits to 13 million boaters by September 2008. "EPA respectfully disagrees with the court's decision," said Johnson. "But we believe that it's necessary to prepare a practical rulemaking before the exclusion ends." US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island was the event's keynote speaker, and spent much of his time talking about the success of the marine industry in that state. He said that the industry represents US$160 million in wages for the state, which has less than one million residents. "It's one of the most important industries in the state and one in which workers earn high wages without necessarily having advanced education--a rarity in manufacturing these days," he said. "Something we're learning is that environmental and economic interests are converging at the same time," said Whitehouse. "Rhode Island was the first state to institute no-discharge rules in our waters, and we've found that was a useful thing to have done--since cleaner waters attract more boaters. We were also the first state to institute the first Freedom to Fish act." Whitehouse noted that since the state dropped its sales tax on new boats, that employment rates have increased by 50 per cent at marinas and boat builders. He also said that he looked forward to working with the marine industry since it was so vital to the interests of his state. The conference also had a seminar on alternative biofuel fuels policy. The trade association said in a statement that mandating the use of ethanol "will have catastrophic effects" on boat engines. "Any effort to incrementally increase ethanol blends in gasoline will have catastrophic effects on boat engines that are designed, tested and calibrated for E10," said a statement. "Changing the fuel that these engines were designed, engineered and calibrated for will negatively affect drivability, exhaust and evaporative emissions." The association said it would support feasibility studies for increasing mid-grade ethanol fuel blends. Senator Rober Corker of Tennesse spoke during the Business of Boating Luncheon about the war in Iraq as well as alternative fuels. Later, during a dinner, Congressman Gene Taylor and Congresswoman Candice Miller received the NMMA's Admiral's Circle award, which is the marine industry's highest congressional honor. The organisers also held an auction to raise money for its Political Action Committee.
(8 May 2007)
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