Marine Board Meets May 22 in Gold Beach
Boating Safety PSA Earns Award
Boating Waste Plan Available For Review, Comment

Director's Report
Report from U.S. Forest Service on motorboat use on the Rogue River. This is an information report and will not involve Board action.
Mandatory Boater Education proposed rule change. Under the proposed language, people who have attained the status of coxswain or crewman within the U.S. Coast Guard, or a similar classification within other branches of the armed forces, would be eligible to apply for their boater education card without completing a boating safety course or equivalency exam.
Annual report to the Board on proposed changes to local boating rules as proposed by the public, other agencies or staff. No action will be taken. Proposed changes include: Speed limit on portion of the Clatskanie River that runs through Clatskanie; Electric motors only on Ollala Lake, Lincoln County; Speed limit in north arm of Northfork Reservoir, Clackamas County; Motors prohibited in Roslyn Lake, Clackamas County; Speed limit in Roberts Bay in Prineville Reservoir; Electric motors only on Siletz River above Morgan Park; 15 hp restriction above Knight Park on Salmon River in Lincoln County; Speed limit and seasonal boating closure on Gilbert River and Cunningham Slough in Sauvie Island Wildlife Area.
Education/Information Report
Law Enforcement Program Report
Maintenance Assistance Program. Proposed rules will establish guidelines for eligibility and participation, set criteria for minimum matching requirements, adjust the allocation formula and establish other policies as prescribed by the Board.
Facility Program Report - Consideration of Facility Grant Requests for projects.

Boating Safety PSA Earns Award

The Oregon State Marine Board’s “Boating At Home” television public service announcement has received a bronze medal in the PSA category of the 22^nd Annual Telly Awards. The coveted awards showcase outstanding non-network and cable TV commercials. More than 11,000 entries were judged at this year’s awards.

The PSA focuses on a frustrated, remorseful angler who was arrested for “Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants” (BUII), lost his boating privileges and is selling his beloved boat to pay the fines. The PSA is part of the Marine Board’s “Boat Safe, Boat Sober” campaign explaining Oregon’s BUII laws and the penalties intoxicated boat operators face. The Marine Board contracts with the public relations firm Gard & Gerber, of Portland, to run the campaign.

"We're thrilled with this award," said Randy Henry, public information officer for the Marine Board. "This award follows an award for our BUII radio spot from last year, which won an Oregon Chapter Public Relations Society of America award. Gard & Gerber has done an excellent job creating eye-catching material explaining the consequences of drinking and boating. We hope boaters see this material across the state and throughout the boating season."

A boat operator arrested for BUII can face fines of up to $5,000, loss of boating privileges for up to three years and can even serve jail time. The law applies to all boat operators, including manually powered boats. Nearly 30 percent of all boating accidents are alcohol related. “Our goal with this campaign is to convince people that drinking and boating is as unacceptable and every bit as dangerous as drinking and driving,” said Henry. “Wind, vibration and other stressors experienced while boating intensify the effects of alcohol. If safety isn’t a good reason to leave the alcohol on shore, than the penalties should be. That’s what we’re trying to tell people through this campaign.”

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Boating Waste Plan Available For Review, Comment

A draft of the Oregon State Marine Board’s Boat Waste Disposal (BWD) Plan is now available for public comment. The 2001-2007 six-year plan identifies priority actions that will provide additional boat waste collection facilities, including pumpouts, dump stations and floating restrooms, for recreational boaters in Oregon over the next several years.

Discharges of raw or poorly treated sewage from boats can spread microorganisms that cause a variety of illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera and can be transmitted by contaminated shellfish to humans.  Sewage discharges also can contribute to lower oxygen levels in water and endanger fish populations. By providing convenient, effective waste collection facilities in key areas, boaters are less likely to discharge waste overboard. Funding for projects under the plan is primarily from the federal Clean Vessel Act.

The plan is available for comment through June 1. It is available via the Marine Board web site at www.boatoregon.com, or will be mailed on request by calling (503) 373-1405 x228.  

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