News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2005

Legislative Action Secures Boater Access to New Hampshire’s Piscataquog River

Legislative Action Secures Boater Access to New Hampshire’s Piscataquog River

Contact:
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Washington, DC— Proposed legislation that would have banned personal watercraft from parts of the Piscataquog River was recently defeated in the State House of Representatives Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development. As a result of this vote, families who have purchased a personal watercraft (PWC) can rest assured that they can continue to enjoy their PWC on the Piscataquog River this boating season.

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) applauds the decision by the Committee. House Bill 134 was overwhelmingly defeated by a vote of 14-1 and ruled, “inexpedient to legislate,” which effectively tables further consideration of the legislation for the remainder of the year. The proposed legislation would have prohibited the use of all PWC on the Piscataquog River in the Town of Goffstown and the City of Manchester . Current state law allows localities to prohibit the use of one and two-person “ski craft,” which leaves families with the option of the popular and more family-friendly three-passenger PWC models.  Some earlier models can seat four people.

“Fortunately families who have purchased a personal watercraft as their family boat will continue to be able to enjoy themselves on the river,” stated Chris Gullott, Manager of State Affairs for PWIA. "Discriminatory proposals like this have no place in our society and this week’s vote confirms that when reasonable people consider the facts, they realize that there is no scientific reason to ban personal watercraft on waterways that allow other types of motorboating.”

Multiple recent studies have shown that there is no reason to prohibit the use of PWC on waterways that allow other types of motorized recreation. In the past three years, fourteen national parks have conducted environmental assessments of personal watercraft and each study has concluded that there is no reason for a PWC ban. Modern PWC are among the most environmentally friendly motorized vessels on the water today and most already meet the EPA’s 2006 marine engine emissions standards. As a result of remarkable technological advancements, today’s PWC are 75% cleaner and 70% quieter than those produced before 1998.

As the trade association representing PWC 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 and 18 to rent PWC, and daylight-only usage restrictions. PWIA’s mission is to ensure that PWC and their users are treated fairly when local, state, and federal government officials consider boating regulations.

More information is available at www.pwia.org.