Congress gives relief to boaters

Much to the relief of recreational boaters, Congress passed a bill yesterday exempting them from new pollution standards intended for large, ocean-going vessels.

The Environmental Protection Agency was set to require more pollution controls later this year on all boats as the result of a court order. But boating advocates launched a coordinated effort to exclude small boats, arguing that the little guy was being caught up in onerous rules meant for the big guys.

"Of course it was an unintended consequence," said Earl Waesche of Annapolis, who is legislative director for the member National Boating...