Clean Water Act: Legislation Concerning Discharges from Recreational Boats

Copeland, Claudia

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Environmental protection;    Water pollution;    Environmental law and legislation;    Sports;    Boats and boating;   

RP-ID  :  RS22878
RP-ID  :  RS22878_2008Sep17

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to develop a regulatory response to a 2006 federal court ruling that vacated a long-standing rule that exempts discharges associated with the normal operation of vessels from permit requirements of the Clean Water Act. Concern that this ruling could require millions of recreational boaters to obtain permits has led to the introduction of legislation to exempt these and other types of vessels from water quality regulation. This report discusses background to the issue; bills introduced in response, two of which were passed by Congress on July 22; and draft permits proposed by EPA on June 17.