Post by perchslayer on Apr 18, 2017 17:21:45 GMT -5
I joined you're forum today just so I could pass this email on I got from a friend about a new law they are cooking up in Mont-peculiar. if you boat or fish from a boat this will affect you. I'm copying the email into this post. I think this is important and I hope people act.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Your help needed - Proposed new boat ramp laws
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2017
To: undisclosed-recipients
Attention Boaters and Anglers!
The VT Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy recently passed a bill known as S.75, which amends statute §1454. Transport of Aquatic Plants and Aquatic Nuisance Species. The bill is now in the House, and they are taking testimony and may vote on it as early as this week.
The amendment includes new language included as Section (c) that will have significant impacts on boaters and anglers in Vermont. The language reads:
(c) Aquatic nuisance species inspection station. A person transporting a vessel to or from a water shall, prior to launching the vessel and upon leaving a water, have the vessel, the motor vehicle transporting the vessel, the trailer, and other equipment inspected and decontaminated at an approved aquatic nuisance species inspection station if:
(1) an aquatic nuisance species inspection station is maintained at the area where the vessel is entering or leaving the water;
(2) the aquatic nuisance species inspection station is open; and
(3) an individual operating the aquatic nuisance species inspection station identifies the vessel for inspection or decontamination.
You can see the whole proposed bill here: TEXT OF BILL
What does this mean to you?
•This means that if you arrive at a launch in VT that has a boat greeter and/or boat wash station present, Boat greeters employed by VTANR or Lake Associations may deny you access to public waters of Vermont if you are deemed a “risk” for transporting aquatic invasive species (if you used your boat on a different lake previously, for example).
•Boat Greeters could board and inspect your vessel inside and out.
•Boat Greeters may force you to go to an offsite decontamination site for cleaning prior to launching.
•Boat Greeters may decontaminate your vessel on site with heated high pressure power washers, risking damage to your property.
•These all may take place both before launching, and upon retrieval.
•This may seriously congest boat ramps, meaning you'll be waiting a long time to launch or retrieve your boat as you wait for boats ahead of you to be inspected/decontaminated.
•This is a significant infringement on boater and angler rights and will interfere with your ability to access and utilize public accesses to public bodies of water in Vermont, without significantly reducing the spread of aquatic invasive species in Vermont.
•The only feasible way to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species in the long term is to have a concerned, engaged boating & angling public, and this is done through Education and Outreach, not mandatory boat inspection and decontamination programs.
HOW TO HELP – PLEASE DO SO THIS WEEK!
S. 75 has now crossed over into the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and may be voted on this week.
It is imperative that you call and/or email all members of the House Committee THIS WEEK and express your concern over the impacts S.75 will have on boating and fishing access in Vermont.
Please use the email Distribution List below. Copy and paste all email addresses below into the TO: box in your email program to send an email all at once to all members of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife:
ddeen@leg.state.vt.us; strictlytrout@vermontel.net; msullivan@leg.state.vt.us; sbeyor@leg.state.vt.us; stevecbeyor@gmail.com; dainsworth@leg.state.vt.us; plefebvre@leg.state.vt.us; jim_mccullough@myfairpoint.net; COde@leg.state.vt.us; TSquirrell@leg.state.vt.us; tterenzini@leg.state.vt.us; thomas.terenzini@yahoo.com
Here is the individual contact information for each member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, in case you want to call them directly and leave messages on S. 75.
David Deen – D, (802) 869-3116
Chair of House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife
ddeen@leg.state.vt.us
strictlytrout@vermontel.net
Mary Sullivan – D, (802) 862-6632
Vice Chair of House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife
msullivan@leg.state.vt.us
Steve Beyor – R, (802) 868-3456
Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife
sbeyor@leg.state.vt.us
stevecbeyor@gmail.com
David Ainsworth – R, (802) 763-8017
Home Phone – (802) 467-8338
Work Phone – (802) 525-3531
dainsworth@leg.state.vt.us
Paul Lefebvre – R
Home Phone – (802) 467-8338
Work Phone – (802) 525-3531
plefebvre@leg.state.vt.us
James McCullough – D
Home Phone – (802) 878-2180
Work Phone – (802) 879-6001
jim_mccullough@myfairpoint.net
Carol Ode – D
Home Phone – (802) 863-3818
COde@leg.state.vt.us
Trevor Squirrell – D
Home Phone – (802) 899-2382
Work Phone – (802) 244-6850
TSquirrell@leg.state.vt.us
Thomas Terenzini – R
Home Phone – (802) 855-1945
tterenzini@leg.state.vt.us
thomas.terenzini@yahoo.com