News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2005

Personal Watercraft Return to Bighorn Canyon
National Recreation Area

Environmental Assessment Concludes PWC Present No Significant Impact;
PWC Welcomed Back Effective Immediately

Contact:
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

WASHINGTON —The lengthy and thorough process to evaluate personal watercraft (PWC) use at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana and Wyoming has concluded today after nearly three years and the final rule finds in favor of PWC use. Boaters once again can enjoy access to the Bighorn Canyon in time for the summer boating season. The ruling to reopen Bighorn National Recreation to PWC use was published today in the Federal Register, and is effective immediately.

In 2002, the National Park Service was required by a court settlement to restrict PWC in 21 park units pending the results of scientific studies regarding the vessels’ impact. Seven units have completed these studies and now welcome personal watercraft; six other units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to re-allow the vessels. The environmental assessment study at Bighorn Canyon concludes that PWC present “no significant impact,” and are an appropriate boating activity for the National Recreation Area. Of three proposed rules, the park’s preferred alternative welcomes PWC use with reasonable regulations, such as no-use zones on the southern shoreline, vessel inspections, and user education programs.

"Today another national park that has put personal watercraft to the test has reaffirmed that these boats are among the cleanest and quietest on the water,” said Maureen Healey, Executive Director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA). “The ban in 2000 was unreasonable because scientific studies consistently show modern PWC have no unique impact that justifies singling them out for discriminatory bans."

PWC use will be allowed on most of the 60-mile long, 12,700 acre Bighorn Lake with exception of areas south of South Narrows . State law in Montana requires PWC operators age 13 and 14 to take an approved boating safety course and carry a certificate of completion. Riders 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Wyoming state law requires PWC operators to be at least 16 years old.

“In every instance—15 to date—where an environmental assessment has measured the impact of PWC on a body of water where motorized boating is permitted, the study concludes that PWC use should be allowed,” said Healey. “It’s becoming clearer each day that the national parks were forced to prohibit PWC use in the first place because of frivolous accusations made by an extreme anti-boating group,” she continued. “This anti-boating group is responsible for costing the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, perhaps more , because it has single handedly forced the National Park Service to conduct these assessments in order to review the ban.”

Modern PWC have always been compliant with federal and state emissions requirements, and many models have met the EPA's 2006 standards for several years. 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 wake board. 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, and easy to store, transport, and maintain.

Did you know?

• The typical PWC buyer is around age 40 with a family
• More than 75% of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2004 were 3-passenger vessels*
• Over half of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2004 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 14,000 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 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.

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* Source: Ehlert PowerSports Business, Market Data Book 2004
+ Source: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000, U.S. Forest Service