Board Gets First Look at Boater Education Rules

SALEM - The first draft of administrative rules required to implement Oregon's Mandatory Boater Education program will be reviewed by the Oregon State Marine Board at their next regular meeting on Tuesday, April 25, in Salem.

The meeting will be held at the Marine Board headquarters, 435 Commercial St. NE, #400. It will begin at 1 p.m. The meeting is being held in a facility that is accessible for persons with disabilities. Persons needing some form of assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability should contact Jill Andrick at (503) 373-1405, ext. 243, at least two working days prior to the meeting.

The Mandatory Boater Education law, HB 2977, was passed by the Oregon legislature in 1999. It will eventually require operators of recreational power boats greater than 10 horsepower, and youths operating any type of power boat, to carry a boater education card. HB 2977 provided the framework for the law, but administrative rules are required to implement it. The OARs spell out the phase-in period, types of classes or equivalency tests allowed, age requirements and other details. The proposed rules will then go out for public review this summer with final adoption by the board next fall.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Director's Report: Review of draft 2001-03 budget, financial report, registration report.
• Consideration of petition from Sixes River Alliance to close the following rivers in Curry County to motorboats: Floras Creek, Pistol River, Winchuck River, Elk River and Sixes River. Staff is requesting board direction.
• Consideration of petition from James and Joyce Ward, et al, to extend the PWC pass-through zone on the Willamette River from the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge to Elk Rock Island. Staff is requesting Board direction.
• Law Enforcement Program Reports
• Education/Information Program Reports
• Review of Mandatory Boater Education Program
• Facility Program Report
• Consideration of Facility Grant Requests

Persons wishing to address the board on non-agenda items may do so during a designated period at the start of the meeting.