|
BACKGROUND
At
the end of 2005, the NMTA began work to
prevent the Department of Ecology (DOE)
from passing rules and regulations that
boatyards simply could not meet.
The
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) is a program  that
is locally overseen by the DOE. One purpose
of the NPDES is to regulate the level
of contaminated runoff that can enter
our lakes and Puget Sound. Of particular
concern are metals such as copper, which
gets into runoff water, and is bad for
the salmon population.
Boatyards
are expected to adhere to the NPDES by
ensuring that runoff water from their
yards meets benchmarks specified in the
permit. The new regulations are unrealistic
and would put many boatyards out of business
when enforced.
Boatyard
Legal Defense
Since
we began this process the NMTA has:
- Appealed
the new regulations of the boatyard
stormwater permit in response to an
appeal by Puget Soundkeepers Alliance
(PSA), which wanted to make these regulations
unrealistically stringent.
- Achieved
some progress toward making the regulations
more reasonable.
- Appealed
the Pollution Control Hearings Board
ruling and vowed to continue the fight
on behalf of the industry.
- Instigated
settlement talks with the stakeholders
in an effort to find "reasonable"
solutions that will improve water quality
while keeping boatyards in business
Take
Action!
You
can help the NMTA by contributing to the
Boatyard Legal Defense Fund. Our legal
and consulting expenses continue to rise
as we address this pressing issue. We
hope that a settlement in the next few
months will bring an end to these expenditures.
In the meantime, we need your contributions
and support.
Links
to Helpful Storm Water Pollution Prevent
Plan Forms:
|
