Article

On Monday, June 17, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources held a public hearing regarding proposed amendments under Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia, which would create a permit and fee for vessels wishing to anchor overnight, even if it is for one night. The amendments would also require persons operating live-aboard vessels with marine toilets, as well as persons who operate pump-out facilities such as marina owners, to keep a log indicating the name, location and dates of the pump-out facilities used.

NMMA policy and engagement manager, Lee Gatts attended the hearing and delivered comments opposing many provisions in the draft regulations under discussion. “We strongly object to even the concept of treating anchorage in Georgia’s public waters like a hotel,” said Gatts. “We know of no state that charges boaters by the day to anchor in its waters. We do not believe this permit scheme will be enforceable given the severe shortage of on-water patrols and other resources. We expect it will be extremely costly and difficult for the state to provide sufficient education to transient boaters to create even minimal compliance with these fees.”

Authorized by the passage of Georgia House Bill 201, these changes attempt to address the issue of derelict vessels located throughout the state, as well as vessels illegally dumping untreated sewage in the water. NMMA believes that these proposed amendments miss the mark and cast too broad of a net affecting and ultimately deterring boaters who contribute approximately $4.3 billion in economic activity to Georgia each year.

“As for illegal discharge, NMMA is aware of how difficult it is to apprehend a person who is illegally dumping sewage, even though existing federal and state law demand that boaters properly treat and discharge their sewage, added Gatts. “HB 201 claims that boaters frequently illegally dump untreated sewage in state waters. Unless these regulations provide an enforcement mechanism that makes it possible for law enforcement to catch boaters who are illegally dumping their untreated sewage, it is difficult to determine what, if any, benefit these proposed regulations provide.”

NMMA’s full comments and testimony delivered by Gatts is available here.

NMMA will continue to monitor these developing regulations and advocate for all users and regulators of the state’s waters to be involved in drafting these regulations to make beneficial and enforceable changes that still maximize a boater’s ability to use the waterway. For more information, please contact Lee Gatts at [email protected].