For Immediate Release

Date: October 26, 2005

Oregon State Marine Board Receives National Award for Its Environmental Efforts

The Oregon State Marine Board has received the State Clean Vessel Act Program Excellence Award. The national award was announced at the annual conference of the States Organization for Boating Access, held recently in Springfield, Illinois.

The Board is the state agency designated to receive and allocate funds from the federal Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program. Congress created the CVA program in 1992 to achieve and maintain a high standard of water quality through the installation of use of marine sanitation devices, including potty dump stations, pump outs and floating restrooms. The US Fish & Wildlife Service administers the CVA program nationally and awards funding to states through a nationally competitive grant process. Within the Pacific Region, Oregon is second only to California in the amount of CVA funding received.

During the last 12 years, over $1.4 million in CVA grants have been distributed to public boat access sites and private marinas throughout Oregon. This includes 42 boat pumpouts, 47 dump stations, and 18 floating restrooms statewide. The Board also utilizes an educational campaign to make boaters aware of the need to properly dispose of marine waste.

The Oregon State Marine Board consists of five members appointed by the Governor. The board sets state boating policy and has the authority to enact rules for boat operation. The agency provides boaters with titling and registration services, boating safety and education, marine law enforcement, and boating access facilities.

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