Short Tacks

Clean Water Act

In a display of bipartisan support for recreational boating, both the House and Senate on Monday passed "The Clean Boating Act of 2008," which will restore a long-standing exemption for recreational boats from permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The legislation now goes to the White House for the President's signature.

Congressional action was spawned by a U.S. District Court decision in September 2006 under which an estimated 17 million recreational boats would have fallen under Clean Water Act permit requirements effective September 30, 2008. The permit would have dictated...