San Diego Bottom Paint Issue!

[Tom Root]

Hey All,
I know this is a local issue, but will become THE trend if action isn't taken soon! I mentioned this item in a previous post, but those of you who care to, please defend your position as neccasary. CRA is spearheading this particular effort, but VYCSD is also involved. I am all for a clean environment but reality is that because of a few people, a truly absurd piece of legislation is going to be passed,IMHO!

I believe if a suitable substitute is available, then fine! They say it is not? This can be used in the future, but to make it mandatory for all people to strip and redo their bottom coat would be outrageous!

I currently do not rent a slip, but do moor at times, and although my X does not have any coating, I do have another Mac that does, and can't see me re- doing it, ever again...unless this passes!

Thanks!

Tom Root
2002 26X
Great White
San Diego



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Cortez Racing
Association
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 5:10 PM
To: Cortez Racing Association:
Subject: Copper Bottom Paint Update

Dear CRA Member:

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (the "board") is planning
on adopting new regulations that would prohibit the use of anti-fouling
paints containing copper, even though the U. S. EPA and California
Department of Pesticide Regulation both currently approve such anti-fouling
paints.

Unless the Board is convinced to change its present direction, then both the
San Diego Port Authority and every yacht club or marina in Shelter Island
will be required to obtain a "discharge permit." Failure of a yacht club or
marina to obtain such permit will result in thousands upon thousands of
dollars in fines. Each club or marina, in order to obtain the permit, will
be required to demonstrate that each slip renter has presented to the yacht
club or marina a certificate by a recognized board yard that the boat is
free of copper-based bottom paint.

Eventually, in order to rent a slip in the Shelter Island basin, each one of
us will be compelled to strip our hulls of all existing copper-based paint
and repaint the bottom with some other product. Currently no other truly
viable anti-fouling paints are available.

This is only the first step by the San Diego Water Quality Control Board.
Ultimately the new regulation would apply to all boats slipped or moored
anywhere in San Diego Bay. The Shelter Island basin has been designated as
the first "guinea pig."

The Board is moving rapidly toward adopting these new regulations. On
Thursday, January 15, 2004, a meeting was conducted at SGYC by Timothy Moore
of Risk Sciences, who urged each and every one of us who will be affected by
the regulation to write or e-mail , the governor, legislator, or local
representative requesting that Risk Sciences and its affiliates be given
more time to detail their research on why the current levels of contaminants
in San Diego Bay is not as presented by the Board and why these new
regulations are unnecessary. The Governor's office can be reached by phone
at 619-445-2841, faxed at 916-445-4633, or e-mailed at
[email protected].

Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) is working hard at defeating
these proposed new regulations. Go to the RBOC web-site, www.rboc.org,
click on "Call to Arms" for more information and suggestions as to the
content of a letter or e-mail to the governor.

Timothy Moore, of Risk Sciences, also has a website, www.toxicity.com, on
which he intends to post not only more information, but also suggestions as
to the content of a letter or e-mail to the governor. His suggestions will
be posted by the end of this week. Although you can download a suggested
letter directly from the RBOC website, Mr. Moore's belief is that each of
our own words is more effective.

Correspondence can also be forwarded directly to the Executive Officer of
the Regional Water Quality Control Board at 9174 Sky Park Ct., Suite 100,
San Diego, CA 92123, or he can be reached by phone at 858-467-2952, or
e-mailed at [email protected]

The deadline for public comments has been set for no later than Friday,
January 23, 2004, at 5:00 P. M. It is therefore urgent that our collective
voices be heard immediately.

I urge each and every one of you to take the time to write, phone or e-mail
your local representative or the governor directly without delay. Our
"bottoms are at stake".

Sincerely

Carolyn Sherman
Commodore
Cortez Racing Association

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[kevin carroll]

Tom, we should talk about a coordinated response, starting with the SDVYC - as you know I do a fair amount of lobbying in my day job, and can assist this effort

We should chat

Kevin Carroll
Jump The Shark
2001 26X
San Diego