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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: The EPA Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance

By Taylor Matsko posted 3 days ago
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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: The EPA Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying you that on Monday, October 26th, the proposed rule " Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance " was published in the Federal Register .  This proposed rule, drafted pursuant to the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), would establish national standards of performance for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel that will apply primarily to commercial vessels 79 feet in length and above that discharge into waters of the United States or ...
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Water Sports Foundation welcomes veteran paddling and boating journalist Jeff Moag as Content Director

By Taylor Matsko posted 3 days ago
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Water Sports Foundation welcomes veteran paddling and boating journalist Jeff Moag as Content Director The Water Sports Foundation (WSF) welcomes outdoor writer and editor Jeff Moag as its new Content Director, with responsibility for managing the non-profit’s media campaigns promoting safe boating and paddling. Moag will also oversee development of a new website and expanded social-media presence for the leading boating-safety foundation established in 2004. Moag was editor-in-chief of Canoe & Kayak magazine for eight years, and led the team that founded Kayak Fish magazine, SUP the Mag and the Canoe and Kayak Awards. Moag also has worked ...
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2020 Operation Dry Water National Award Winners Announced

By Taylor Matsko posted 15 days ago
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OCTOBER 15, 2020: The Operation Dry Water Awards Program  recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on the recreational boating community through the deterrence of boating under the influence (BUI). These law enforcement officers and agencies participate in the national Operation Dry Water campaign and make a difference in recreational boating safety by raising awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and by removing impaired operators from the nation’s waterways. This year, the 2020 Operation Dry Water (ODW) award winners were recognized virtually at the NASBLA Annual Conference. The virtual awards ...
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2020 Operation Dry Water National Award Winners Announced

By Taylor Matsko posted 15 days ago
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2020 Operation Dry Water National Award Winners Announced LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 15, 2020) – The  Operation Dry Water Awards Program  recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on the recreational boating community through the deterrence of boating under the influence (BUI). These law enforcement officers and agencies participate in the national Operation Dry Water campaign and make a difference in recreational boating safety by raising awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence and by removing impaired operators from the nation’s waterways. This year, the 2020 Operation Dry Water (ODW) award ...
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NASBLA holds the 2020 Virtual Business Meeting and Annual Conference

By Taylor Matsko posted 17 days ago
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NASBLA holds the 2020 Virtual Business Meeting and Annual Conference LEXINGTON, Ky . (October 13, 2020) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) held this year’s business meeting and annual conference, for the first time virtually, from the Lexington, Kentucky, headquarters, Sept. 28 – 30. The NASBLA business meeting covered a variety of topics including a report from the U.S. Coast Guard, policy committee reports and the election of the slate of officers. Captain Timothy Dunleavy was elected Chairman of the nonprofit organization for the 2020-2021 year. Lieutenant Kenton Turner was elected Vice Chair and Major Dan Hesket ...
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New Hampshire Boating Law Administrator elected NASBLA Chairman

By Taylor Matsko posted 24 days ago
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New Hampshire Boating Law Administrator elected NASBLA Chairman LEXINGTON, KY. (October 6, 2020) – During the 2020 National Association of State Boating Law Administrators ’  (NASBLA) Annual Conference, held virtually Sept. 28 – 30, Boating Law Administrators elected Captain Timothy Dunleavy, Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for New Hampshire, as Chairman of the nonprofit organization for the 2020-2021 year. He succeeds Assistant Commander Cody Jones, BLA for the state of Texas. NASBLA is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities ...
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Survey: Throwable Device Exception Survey

By Hannah Helsby posted 30 days ago
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Throwable Device Exception Survey Survey Link:    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7L789KP   This survey is very important to the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) as it will help inform the development of the council’s recommendation to the U.S. Coast Guard on how to increase life jacket usage, while at the same time, ease regulatory constraints for river rafts on our nation’s whitewater rivers. NBSAC is a federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to the Coast Guard concerning boating safety.     Most commercial river rafting companies, and most whitewater state laws throughout the United ...
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NASBLA awards first Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification

By Taylor Matsko posted 09-08-2020
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NASBLA awards first Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification The Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification is a voluntary credential for recreational boating professionals developed by NASBLA. The credential is broad-based and addresses boating professionals’ knowledge, performance and career achievements in the identified program domains.  On August 18, 2020, David Windsor, National Coordinator of the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow Program (CLfT) , passed the exam and was awarded his CRBP certification. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to recognize ...
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Help improve the Nation’s shallow draft waterways ATON system

By Taylor Matsko posted 09-01-2020
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Coast Guard wants your feedback! Help improve the Nation’s shallow draft waterways ATON system The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a 5 minute on-line survey to assess the Shallow Draft Waterway Systems. The study will help the Coast Guard to determine the Aids to Navigation (ATON) requirements in the Shallow Draft Waterway Systems which includes all navigable waterways of the United States less than 12 feet.  The Coast Guard wants your feedback if you operate in navigable waters less than 12 ft. in depth. Take the survey NOW at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ShallowWaterWAMS Who should take the survey? All recreational ...
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Call for Applicants for National Boating Education Standards Panel

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-19-2020
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Call for Applicants for National Boating Education Standards Panel The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is seeking applicants for service on the   National Boating Education Standards Panel   for the 2021-2023 term. The 15-member panel, designed to represent a range of stakeholder interests, is charged with reviewing, developing, and revising the National Boating Education Standards using open, consensus-based procedures conforming to the Essential Requirements for Due Process of American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Interest categories are:   Public, Commercial, State Boating Agency, Federal Boating Agency, ...
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Between the Waves Podcast - Quick Note on HR 3409, USCG Reauthorization Act of 2020

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-11-2020
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Between the Waves Podcast Quick Note on HR 3409, USCG Reauthorization Act of 2020, Episode 12 *This is a transcript of the "HR 3409 USCG Reauthorization Act of 2020" episode of NASBLA's Podcast, Between the Waves, from August 3, 2020.  While we don't often track federal legislation on a regular basis. I thought it would be important for you to hear about some recent action that may be important to each of us. This is Between the Waves, an audio series to discuss the topics important to today’s water safety professional. Here’s your host from the great state of Texas, Cody Jones. The U.S. House of Representatives, just passed the Elijah E. Cummings, ...
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NASBLA BOAT Program Receives Letter of Appreciation

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-11-2020
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NASBLA BOAT Program Receives Letter of Appreciation The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program   delivered a five-day   Tactical Operators Course   in Hampton, Virginia, hosted by the Virginia Port Authority, from July 27 - 31, 2020. This course is designed to enhance the capabilities of students with the knowledge and skills necessary to appropriately react to threats in the maritime community.   Upon completion of the Tactical Operators Course, Dave Considine, NASBLA BOAT Program Director, received an email of appreciation from one of the students. The email reads as follows: ...
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Operation Dry Water Campaign Recognized for Helping to Protect the Public

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-06-2020
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AUGUST 06, 2020: The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has been awarded a 2020  American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)  Power of A Gold Award for the  Operation Dry Water  campaign. Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol- and drug- related incidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water. ASAE’s Power of A Awards , the industry’s highest honor, recognize the association community’s valuable ...
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NASBLA wins Power of A Award for ‘Operation Dry Water’ Campaign

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-06-2020
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NASBLA wins Power of A Award for  ‘Operation Dry Water’ Campaign [LEXINGTON, KY - August 6, 2020] – The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators  (NASBLA) has been awarded a 2020  American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)  Power of A Gold Award for the  Operation Dry Water campaign. Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating under the influence (BUI) awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol- and drug- related incidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water. ASAE’s Power ...
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Senate Committee Approves Sport Fish Restoration Boating Trust Fund Ahead of Recess

By Taylor Matsko posted 08-05-2020
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Senate Committee Approves Sport Fish Restoration Boating Trust Fund Ahead of Recess The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has approved reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (S. 4144), a key priority for members of the recreational boating community. The program supports fishery restoration and conservation efforts, and boating safety and access. The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF), which is set to expire in 2020, supports the recreational boating community with approximately $650 million in annual funding. "The collaborative work of the partner organizations of the Angling ...
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NASBLA Awarded USCG Nonprofit Grants

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-29-2020
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NASBLA Awarded USCG Nonprofit Grants Among the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) core v alues is collaboration with members and stakeholders. In doing so, NASBLA works annually to construct nonprofit grant project proposals to meet the needs of members through research, innovation and standards development. As a result of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program applications, NASBLA was awarded funding for 10 grant projects, detailed below. Each of these projects is intended to support members and stakeholders in a coordinated effort to make our nation’s waterways safer. ...
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South Carolina DNR shines a spotlight on BUI Enforcement

By Taylor Matsko posted 06-23-2020
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JUNE 23, 2020: BUI enforcement in South Carolina has been the cornerstone of a very successful effort to improve the state’s boating incident and boating-related fatality numbers. Boating has always been a popular activity in South Carolina, but beginning around the late 1980s, the number of boats registered in the state drastically increased. In 1974, records indicate there were just 128,0000 registered vessels in the state. By 1995, that number had more than doubled, and the state experienced one of its highest annual counts of boating incidents that year. Records show that this explosive growth in South Carolina’s registered boats has been continuous. ...
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‘Operation Dry Water’ Takes Place Nationwide Deterring Drunk Boating

By Taylor Matsko posted 06-23-2020
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JUNE 18, 2020: Operation Dry Water (ODW) , a nationwide campaign addressing boating under the influence (BUI), will take place July 3 – 5, over the July fourth holiday. The holiday is known not only for the increased numbers of recreational boaters on the water, but for an increase in the number of injuries and deadly accidents related to boating under the influence. The U.S. Coast Guard, local and state law enforcement agencies, recreational boating safety advocates and the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)  are gearing up to help raise awareness and prevent tragedies related to boating under the influence. “The decision ...
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Operation Dry Water Reminds Boaters to Boat Sober as Part of National Safe Boating Week

By Taylor Matsko posted 06-23-2020
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MAY 20, 2020: Operation Dry Water  and the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   are reminding boaters during National Safe Boating Week, May 16 – 22, 2020, to boat sober this summer. National Safe Boating Week brings attention to important lifesaving tips for recreational boaters and takes place just prior to Memorial Day weekend, the kick-off of the boating season for many. Millions of boaters will head to the water, taking advantage of the warmer weather while honoring, celebrating and remembering all those who lost their lives while serving our country. Unfortunately, alcohol use by both operators and passengers often becomes ...
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Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy While Boating During the COVID-19 Crisis

By Taylor Matsko posted 06-23-2020
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MAY 01, 2020: During the upcoming  2020 Operation Dry Water  weekend, July 3-5, thousands of officers will be on the water nationwide ensuring the safety of boaters and deterring any dangerous activity, including boating under the influence. The Operation Dry Water campaign encourages all boaters to boat responsibly and take extra precautions this boating season in response to the current Coronavirus health crisis. The Operation Dry Water campaign, coordinated by the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , offers these ten tips for practicing social distancing and keeping not only yourself, but other boaters and law enforcement ...
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