FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2006

Personal Watercraft Return to Gulf Islands National Seashore

After 4 Year Delay in Nat’l Park Service Rulemaking, PWC Allowed Back Today

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-737-9768
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Washington—The Personal Watercraft Industry (PWC) declares victory at Gulf Islands National Seashore today as personal watercraft are, once again, allowed back into the park.

"Today another national park has reaffirmed that personal watercraft are among the cleanest and quietest motorboats on the water,” said Maureen Healey, Executive Director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA). “In every single instance — 15 to date — where a scientific study has measured the impact of PWC on a body of water where motorized boating is permitted, these studies conclude that PWC should be allowed.”

The final rule allows PWC use in all park waters, which are open to other types of watercraft. PWIA agrees with the National Park Service that this rule has been a long time coming and achieves balance by providing visitor access and safety, while protecting the valuable resources.

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. Gulf Islands National Seashore is the eleventh unit to complete this study and now welcomes personal watercraft back into the park. Four other national park units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to determine if PWC will be allowed back into those parks.

This week, PWIA and representatives from the companies that manufacturer PWC visited with Members of Congress and officials at the White House to discuss the rulemaking process that was supposed to be complete by the National Park Service in 2002. As is the case with Gulf Islands, it has been common practice among the eleven parks that have restored PWC use to languish — sometimes years — after scientifically determining PWC should never have been banned in the first place. The environmental study conducted at Gulf Islands National Seashore was completed in April 2004, long before Hurricane Katrina, and concluded PWC present “no unique impact.”

“Finishing the rules and restoring personal watercraft access has been delayed for too long and in the meantime, millions of Americans have been denied access to their national parks, thousands of small businesses have suffered, and thousands of jobs have been lost,” said Healey. “While the national park service originally relied on outdated science when it agreed to this ban, it has since shown in 15 separate studies that PWC should not be banned where other boats are allowed. It’s time PWC use is restored in all public places where other boats are welcome.”

A new economic impact study conducted by The Trade Partnership shows that the bans in the national parks have cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2.7 billion and at least 3,300 jobs.

PWC operators in Florida must be at least 14 years old and if younger than 22 years old, must pass an approved boating safety course before operating a vessel. In Mississippi, all boaters born after June 30, 1980 most first pass a boating safety course.

Modern PWC have always been compliant with federal and state emissions requirements, and many models have met the EPA's 2006 standards several years ahead of schedule. As a result of an industry-wide commitment to update engine technology since 1998, manufacturers have been producing PWC that are up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than previous models. New models can seat up to three 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, easy to store, transport, and maintain.

Did you know?

• The typical PWC buyer is around age 40 with a family.
• Nearly 90 percent of all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2005 were three-passenger vessels. *
• About 80 percent all PWC sold in the U.S. in 2005 had new-technology engines such as four-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 15,000 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, November 14, 2005
+ Source: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000, U.S. Forest Service