( BW)(PERSONAL-WATERCRAFT) Position of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association Regarding National Park Service Ban News & Sports Editors/Outdoor Writers & Columnists WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1998-- Position Summary: "The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) believes that personal watercraft use should be considered in any national park situation where power boat operation and water contact sports such as water skiing and wake boarding are allowed. If a park has a tradition of these uses, our sport is compatible. If, however, there is no tradition of power boating and water contact sports, and compelling reasons to maintain those traditions, we likely will voluntarily agree to avoid use on that water body." -- John Donaldson, Executive Director Public Debate is Needed Public lands, by definition, are publicly owned. The decision regardingwhat activities can and can not take place on these lands should be a public decision. The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) and the nearly one million owners of personal watercraft (PWC) nationwide simply want a fair hearing before our craft - or any other recreational use for that matter - is banned from public lands. One Size Does Not Fit All PWIA is concerned about the National Park Service (NPS) adopting a "one size fits all" approach to PWC use that would fail to respect the diversity of our park system and the many different visitor expectations and experiences. PWC use in one park can be substantially different than in another. The adoption of a process that looks at all factors will help both the individual park superintendents and those who seek to participate in determining what are compatible uses. PWC are Boats The U.S. Coast Guard recognizes PWC as inboard vessels and they should be treated as boats in the NPS debate. PWC owners pay exactly the same registration fees, park usage fees and gasoline taxes as other recreational boaters. In the eyes of the federal and state government tax collectors, PWC are recognized as legal recreational vessels. To create new regulations that single out one type of vessel without any basis in fact or objectively >gathered data is arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory. PWIA does not advocate that PWC should be allowed in every national park. Rather, our position is personal watercraft be permitted in any park situation where power boat operation and water contact sports such as water skiing or wake boarding are allowed. If a park has a tradition of these uses, our sport is compatible. If there is a tradition of no power boat operation or no water contact, and there are compelling reasons to maintain that position, we likely will voluntarily refrain from using that water body. A Public Decision-Making Process is Needed A consensus approach toward policy concerning PWC operation can avoid further controversy and confusion. It can and should include all stakeholders. It should give all parties an incentive to make solutions work in the long run. Imposition of rules from Washington is not a final solution to this or any problem. A consensus approach carries the promise of developing a "win-win" solution. To arrive at a "win-win" solution, decisions must be made only on fact-based information and compromise is necessary between all groups. The foundation for such a process already exists in the resource guide "A Guide for Multiple Use Waterway Management." Our association was a partner, along with NPS and other federal agencies, in developing this guide. Planning procedures outlined in the guide could form the basis for resolving waterway use conflicts in NPS units. Bans Should Be Last Resort There are many types of solutions to concerns associated with PWC use short of bans. For example, Connecticut officials claim they have achieved a significant reduction in complaints and accidents associated with PWC use due to a mandatory education program. The industry strongly advocates mandatory education in all states. Many communities have reached compromises on how personal watercraft fits with other recreational uses on public water bodies. The designation of slow-speed, no-wake areas is one such strategy. Further, progress is being made on many other fronts including safety and responsible riding initiatives, protection of the environment through cleaner engines, and additional reduction of sound levels. Compromise and progress are possible when people are willing to work together and not simply deny one group its rights. Conclusion Capricious and unfair bans and restrictions on one type of craft are abhorrent on any water body in the United States. But to place those bans and restrictions on publicly owned lands, is a decidedly un-American concept and should be rejected by the National Park Service and the public. The Personal Watercraft Industry Association represents the five major manufacturers of watercraft which sell under such brand names as Jet Ski, Wave Runner, Sea Doo, Tiger Shark and Polaris. For more information contact: 202/721-1620. CONTACT: Personal Watercraft Industry Association John Donaldson, Executive Director 202/721-1620 KEYWORD: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GOVERNMENT SPORTS ------------------------------------------------------------------- Neil Harrison-Houston, Texas email: nil_at_nol.net (_at_ _at_) web: www.nol.net/~nil/ ----------------------------ooO~(_)~Ooo---------------------------- 100% recycled electrons *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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