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News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2004
Two National Park Units Reopen to Personal Watercraft
In Time for Summer Boating
Studies Affirm PWC are Cleaner and Quieter
Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Beau Phillips, 202-777-3513
Washington, DC—Two years after the
National Park Service was required by a court settlement to
begin prohibiting personal watercraft (PWC), two more National
Recreation Areas have reopened their boat ramps to PWC in
time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Amistad National Recreation Area and Lake Meredith National
Recreation Area, both in Texas, announced today that personal
watercraft use will again be allowed, effective immediately.
“We’re glad PWCs are allowed back on the reservoir,”
said Amistad NRA superintendent Alan Cox. Three National Park
Service (NPS) units already welcome personal watercraft, nine
units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to
reallow the vessels, and scientific analyses on the effects
of personal watercraft are currently underway at two National
Seashores.
"We were confident that science would once again rule
over bias, and confirm that PWC have no unique impact that
justifies singling them out for discriminatory bans,"
said Jeff Ludwig, Regulatory Affairs Manager at the Personal
Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA). “These two re-openings
continue a trend of National Park Service findings that there
is a place for PWC in units of the National Park system that
allow other forms of motorized boating. I applaud the National
Park Service for completing this process in time to allow
the public to use their PWC at Amistad and Lake Meredith for
the 2004 boating season, and encourage the NPS to work as
expediently as possible to finish the rulemaking process in
other units currently considering allowing resumed PWC use,”
continued Ludwig.
Often referred to by their trade names—JET SKI®,
WaveRunner® Sea-Doo®, Polaris®, and AquaTrax®,
personal watercraft were banned from most National Recreation
Areas, Lakeshores and Seashores in 2002 as a result of a 2000
lawsuit between an anti-boating group and the National Park
Service. Each unit that seeks to reopen to PWC is required
to complete a comprehensive scientific study of PWC impact
on the local environment and economy and prepare a rule allowing
continued PWC use. Amistad and Lake Meredith have both completed
this process and have determined that PWC have no unique impact
on their waterways.
“In fact, in every instance where a scientific assessment
has measured the impact of PWC on a public body of water where
motorized boating is permitted, modern PWC have been found
to be appropriately included in multiple-use waterways management
plans,” said Ludwig.
Modern PWC have always been compliant with federal and state
emissions requirements, and many models are ahead of schedule,
meeting the EPA's 2006 standards several years early. As a
result of an industry-wide commitment to update engine technology
since 1998, manufacturers have been producing PWC that are
75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than previous models.
New models can seat up to four passengers and tow a water
skier or inner tube. PWC have evolved into an environmentally
friendly boating choice for families who wish to enjoy the
water together, and have found personal watercraft to be affordable,
approachable, and easy to store, transport, and maintain.
Did you know?
- The typical PWC buyer is around age 40 with a family
- Nearly 75% of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2002 were 3-passenger
vessels *
- Over half of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2002 had new-technology
engines such as 4-stroke and direct-injection *
- Twenty million Americans enjoy personal watercraft each
year, according to a government survey +
- U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 99 percent of PWC
are operated accident-free
- Manufacturers have loaned more than 13,000 PWC to law
enforcement, rescue, and research organizations for use
in on-water patrols, search and rescue operations, and marine
mammal research
As the trade association representing the five major personal
watercraft manufacturers in the U.S., PWIA actively advocates
for states to adopt reasonable regulations such as mandatory
boating safety education for all PWC users, a minimum age
of 16 to operate PWC, and daylight-only usage restrictions.
PWIA’s mission is to ensure that personal watercraft
and personal watercraft users are treated fairly when local,
state, and federal government officials consider boating regulations.
More information on PWIA is available at www.pwia.org.
The following chart details national recreation areas, seashores,
and lakeshores and their stage in the PWC review process.
The National Park Service welcomes comments from the public.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNIT |
STATUS |
URL |
| Amistad National Recreation Area (TX) |
OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/amis |
| Assateague Island National Seashore (MD/VA) |
OPEN TO PWC as of June 1, 2003 |
www.nps.gov/asis |
| Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT/WY) |
EA published June 11, 2003; draft rule published
May 5, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/bica |
| Big Thicket National Preserve (TX) |
EA published July 24, 2002; draft rule in
progress |
www.nps.gov/bith |
| Cape Lookout National Seashore (NC) |
EA in progress |
www.nps.gov/calo
|
| Chickasaw National Recreation Area (OK) |
EA published March 10, 2003; draft rule published
March 25, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/chic |
| Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO) |
EA published June 13, 2003; draft rule published
May 5, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/cure |
| Fire Island National Seashore (NY) |
EA published September 5, 2002; draft rule
in progress |
www.nps.gov/fiis |
| Gateway National Recreation Area (NJ/NY) |
EA published May
13, 2003; draft rule in progress |
www.nps.gov/gate |
| Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ/UT) |
OPEN TO PWC as of May 1, 2003 |
www.nps.gov/glca |
| Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL/MS) |
EA published April 19, 2004; draft rule in
progress |
www.nps.gov/guis |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ/NV) |
OPEN TO PWC as of April 9, 2003 |
www.nps.gov/lame |
| Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX) |
OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/lamr |
| Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA) |
EA published April 29, 2003; draft rule published
February 26, 2004 |
www.nps.gov/laro |
| Padre IslandNational Seashore (TX) |
EA in progress |
www.nps.gov/pais |
| Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (MI) |
EA published July 22, 2002; draft rule in
progress |
www.nps.gov/piro |
* Source: Ehlert PowerSports Business, Market
Data Book 2002
+ Source: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment
2000, U.S. Forest Service
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