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For Immediate Release
September 8, 2006
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
Personal Watercraft Return to Cape Lookout National Seashore in NC
After 4 Year Delay in Nat’l Park Service Rulemaking, PWC Allowed Back Today
WASHINGTON — The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) declares victory at Cape Lookout National Seashore today as personal watercraft are allowed back on waters within the park’s boundaries. This comes four years after a nationwide ban on personal watercraft (PWC). Since that time, however, 11 other national park units have reversed their PWC bans after science proved conclusively that PWC do not cause any unique environmental harm..
"This is a huge victory,” stated Maureen Healey, Executive Director of PWIA. “Today another national park has reaffirmed that personal watercraft are among the cleanest and quietest motorboats on the water. In every single instance when a scientific study has looked at the impact of PWC on a body of water where other motorized vessels are permitted, the results have concluded the very same results: PWC should be re-allowed back into that park.”
The final rule allows PWC use at Cape Lookoutin about 50 percent of the sou nd-side sandy beach, which is most frequented by park visitors with boats. Other locations accessible to PWCs within the park are the North Core Banks (Ocracoke Inlet, Milepost 11B, Long Point, and Old Drum Inlet), South Core Banks (New Drum Inlet, and Great Island Access), Cape Lookout (Lighthouse Area North, Lighthouse Area South, and Power Squadron Spit), and Shackleford Banks (West End Access).
In 2000, the National Park Service, through a court settlement, restricted PWC use in 21 park units pending the results of an environmental assessment and final rulemaking for each park. Cape Lookout National Seashore is the twelfth consecutive park unit to restore PWC use after completing the scientific study and public rulemaking process. Three other national park units are in the final stages of the rulemaking process to determine if PWC will be allowed back into those parks.
As is the case with Cape Lookout National Seashore, it has been common practice among the twelve parks that have restored PWC use to languish — sometimes years — after scientifically determining PWC should never have been banned in the first place. While PWC use was banned at Cape Lookout in the spring of 2002, the environmental study conducted at Cape Lookout National Seashore was not completed until December 2005. A “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) was not signed until July 7, 2006.
“Finishing the rules and restoring personal watercraft access has been delayed far 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. This is not right,” 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.”
An economic impact study conducted by The Trade Partnership in early 2006 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 North Carolina must be 16 years of age to operate a PWC alone, persons 14-15 years of age may operate a PWC legally if they have completed a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or are onboard with an adult 18 years of age or older.
Modern PWC comply with federal and state emissions requirements, and many models met the EPA's 2006 standards several years ahead of schedule. 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 the 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 about 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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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNIT
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STATUS
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URL
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Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004
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www.nps.gov/amis
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Assateague Island National Seashore (MD/VA)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 30, 2003
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www.nps.gov/asis
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT/WY)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 1, 2005
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www.nps.gov/bica
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Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
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EA published July 24, 2002; rule in progress
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www.nps.gov/bith
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Cape Lookout National Seashore (NC)
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OPEN TO PWC as of September 8, 2006
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www.nps.gov/calo
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Chickasaw National Recreation Area (OK)
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OPEN TO PWC as of September 2, 2004
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www.nps.gov/chic
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Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO)
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EA published June 13, 2003; rule in progress
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www.nps.gov/cure
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Fire Island National Seashore (NY)
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OPEN TO PWC as of July 6, 2005
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www.nps.gov/fiis
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Gateway National Recreation Area (NJ/NY)
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EA published May 13, 2003; rule in progress
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www.nps.gov/gate
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ/UT)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 1, 2003
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www.nps.gov/glca
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Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL/MS)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 4, 2005
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www.nps.gov/guis
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ/NV)
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OPEN TO PWC as of April 9, 2003
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www.nps.gov/lame
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Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
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OPEN TO PWC as of May 27, 2004
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www.nps.gov/lamr
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Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
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OPEN TO PWC as of June 25, 2004
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www.nps.gov/laro
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Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
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EA in progress
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www.nps.gov/pais
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (MI)
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OPEN TO PWC as of October 27, 2005
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www.nps.gov/piro
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* Source: Ehlert PowerSports Business, November 14, 2005
+ Source: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000, U.S. Forest Service
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