Boating Access, Boater Education Key Topics At Meeting

Development of the Mandatory Boater Education Program is on track, with draft rules getting their first review by the Oregon State Marine Board on Tuesday, April 25, in Salem. In addition to this, the Board approved requests for nearly one million dollars in boating access improvement projects.

Mandatory Boater Education

Mandatory Boater Education will eventually require operators of boats greater than 10 horsepower to carry a boater education card showing they've met the basic educational requirements of the law. The law was established by the 1999 Oregon Legislature in HB 2977, but requires administrative rules to implement. The proposed rules viewed by the Board are a draft which will go out for public review this summer, then come back to the Board this fall for final approval.

Key points under the rules:

• No cards will be required until 2003.
• Boater Education Cards will be available beginning 2001.
• The 12-year-old minimum operator age requirement will begin in 2003. Specifically stated in the law, youths must be at least 12 to obtain the card, youths 12-15 must have a card to operate power boats of any horsepower, and must have an adult with a card on board to operate a craft greater than 10 horsepower.
• To obtain a card, a person must complete a NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators) approved course and test in person or on the Internet, or pass an approved equivalency exam. People who already have proof they have taken an approved course, such as those offered by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Power Squadron or state correspondence course, will not need to take a course again.
• Requirements will be phased in as follows: 2003 - 30 and younger must carry a card; 2004, 40 and younger; 2005, 45 and younger; 2006, 50 and younger; 2007, 60 and younger; 2008, 70 and younger; 2009, all boaters.
• The fee for the card will be $10. This is a once-in-a-lifetime fee. Replacement cards will cost $5.

For other details or to review the proposed rules, check the Marine Board web site at www.boatoregon.com, or call the Marine Board at (503) 378-8587.

Facility Grant Requests

Sixteen boating access and facilities projects were approved by the Board during the meeting. The grants will be used to rebuild boat ramps, install new floats, improve restrooms and other facilities across Oregon. The grants totaled $925,711, bringing total Facility Grant and Clean Vessel Act expenditures this biennium to $3,918,047. Projects and grant amounts are as follows:

• City of North Bend, California Street ramp and gravel parking area - $43,000
• Crook County Park Dist., Ochoco parking - $27,400
• Linn County, Phase 1 Gedney Creek toilet - $10,000
• Tillamook County, Memaloose dredge - $14,971
• Coos County, Doris Place parking - $21,600
• State Parks Dept., Prineville Reservoir parking - $29,300
• Port of Garibaldi, Restroom Repairs - $5,447
• Kanes Marina, pumpout replacement - $16,500 (CVA funds)
• Curry County/USFS, Foster Bar access road and parking - $152,213
• Boardman Park & Rec District, transient tie-up and pumpout - $47,750
• Yamhill County, Rogers Landing access road and parking - $216,630
• Jackson County, Klum Landing flush restroom (phase 2) - $71,500
• Deschutes County/USFS, Paulina Lake ramp and floats - $89,600u
• Deschutes County/USFS, Cinder Hill ramp and floats - $77,300
• Oregon City, Clackamette Park ramp repairs - $55,000
• Port of Brookings, transient tie-ups - $64,000