Department of Homeland Security

2005 Copyright July 2005 BoatU.S. Magazine

SB 786 Proposes to Curtail Free Data

from National Weather Service

     Free NOAA weather radio could go the way of the eight-track tape player if Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) has his way.

   Legislation introduced by Santorum, S. 786, would restrict NOAA’s broadcasting to emergency weather, like hurricanes and tornados and permit private companies like AccuWeather and The Weather Channel to get all of its daily weather information from NOAA for free. These companies would then turn around and sell the continuous weather updates to the public that NOAA used to provide free of charge.

Such a drastic change in the public’s access to critical weather information could endanger the safety of boat owners who routinely rely on this information to make basic decisions about when to head out of port or when to return. Boat U.S. has contacted each U.S. senator advising them of our opposition to this bill.

S. 786 would only allow NOAA to issue severe weather warnings to the public when conditions were life threatening. The bill would save no money for the government because in order to issue such warnings, all the routine data collection and monitoring work must go on regardless. In addition, the “non-critical” data for boaters, such as tides, wind direction, speed and movement of fronts, can be just as important as storm warnings.

Members are urged to contact their senators in opposition to S. 786 in a letter of your own, especially now that the hurricane season is here.

Boat US website information:       http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm

Future of Middle Bass Island for the Marina at the State Park

Please pass this information along to as many boaters as possible. 

Here is information concerning a meeting with the Ohio EPA regarding the future of the Marina at Middle Bass Island State Park. It is very important that we as recreational boaters attend this meeting. The environmental groups are planning to attend and make statements that the area is kept as natural wetlands and protected as possible. That means very little or no marina hardly at all. Please make an attempt to attend this very important meeting.  

    "Ohio EPA has put out the Public Notice (PN) for the ODNR 401 Application for the Middle Bass Island Marina and Campground Project.  It sets the public hearing and information meeting for Tuesday, October 11, 2005 starting at 1:00 PM at the town hall ( 985 Fox Road ).

  The PN also sets a deadline for comments (support or concerns) on the project for Tuesday, October 25, 2005 along with instructions for mailing any comments.  People do not have to come to the meeting to submit written comments.  The EPA would like those individuals/agencies that attend the public hearing meeting to also submit any comments presented at the meeting in writing.