One hot topic these days is the possibility of Puget Sound becoming a No Discharge Zone. Both the Northwest Marine Trade Association and the Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW) have come out opposed to it. From a practical standpoint, it affects only boaters with Type 1 and Type 2 MSDs, in so much as they’d have to have holding tanks. Randy Shuman provides a great explanation of the NDZ (and a counter opinion) here. Whatever your opinion, you can weigh in with it in the link below in the following RBAW call to action:
From the Recreational Boating Association of Washington
Boaters are encouraged to review and respond to the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) draft petition for a Puget Sound No Discharge Zone before the end of the comment period on April 21.
Here is a link to the petition:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/CleanBoating/nodischargezone.html
If approved by the EPA, the effect would be to eliminate the use of Type 1 & 2 Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). In addition, marine law enforcement would have new authority to stop, board, and inspect your boat for compliance.
Boaters want clean water. After careful consideration of the petition, RBAW’s Board has decided to oppose the petition. Dumping untreated sewage is already illegal and enforced by the Coast Guard.
It is the RBAW Board’s position that DOE’s petition is lacking in science to document recreational boaters as anything more than a minuscule part of a much larger problem. The DOE petition also would stop technology advances in Type 1 & 2 MSD development. A NDZ is a misguided solution to water quality issues in Puget Sound.
DOE is accepting comments on the draft NDZ petition until April 21. We urge recreational boaters to comment. Click here to send a sample email using our Voter Voice system. Please feel free to change or add your own views and comments to the sample email. The process is fast, easy and only takes a few minutes.
Thank you for your interest in boating issues.
Steve Greaves
RBAW President
