YACHT CLUBS OF MARYLAND
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICER report
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BOATING, WATERWAYS, and the ENVIRONMENT
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By Legislative Affairs Officer Deb Noon
WOW! I thought things would be quiet from now until the next legislative session, but I was wrong! Things are continuing to simmer through the summer months, so here you go!
The Maryland Legislature passed some items of interest for boaters at the end of their session. They were:
SB7/HB17: Task Force to study the Boating Industry in Maryland; which looks at ways to make the impact of Maryland laws and regulations treat both residential and visiting boaters fairly. It also helps to support the Marine Trade Industry.
SB676/HB612: Property Tax Assessment-Commercial Waterfront Property; which provides assessment of commercial waterfront property based on its use rather than market value for property tax purposes.
HB1253: Chesapeake & Atlantic Bays Critical Area Protection Program; which protects recreational boating, waterfront property owners, yacht clubs, and marinas waterway dependency.
On the national front, we are still watching and campaigning for Senate Bill s2766: The Clean Boating Act of 2008. This bill would exempt recreational boaters from having to get an EPA Discharge Permit to discharge any type of liquids from your vessel. This would include your gray water from sinks and showers, boat wash down water, etc. The current exemption is in place until September 30, 2008, so if this bill does not pass, as of October 1, 2008, all boaters would have to apply for a permit through the EPA. Commodore Phyllis Murphy of Galloway provided letters for YCM members to send to local Senators. If your club did not receive a copy of this letter, please email me and I will forward you the letter and appropriate address. Maryland Senators, Cardin and Mikulski support this bill. But they need to hear from YOU!
On the local/national front is the continuing saga of the LNG Plant at Sparrows Point. The Federal Appeals Court of Richmond, which heard the appeals arguments for the case has over ruled the Maryland Court, which ruled in favor of the community in not allowing the plant to be put at Sparrows Point. At this time Maryland is considering whether or not to appeal that latest ruling. Stay Tuned!!
LAO Deb
As always, if you have any issues that you would like discussed or followed up on, please drop me an email at DebSOM917@aol.com.
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