Here is an out-of-state issue you might want to comment on. From the Bluewater Network and forwarded by Jane Clark Last Chance to Comment on Florida Keys! **IMPORTANT: The deadline for comments is midnight April 30, 2001! This is your last chance to help protect the Florida Keys from jetskis! Currently, the comments are running in favor of no new restrictions on jetskis. Currently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is being flooded with pro jetskis comments. We apologize for sending this alert again, however if NOAA is to enact even minimal jetski restrictions, it needs to hear support for strong measures such as a ban. ========================================================== Help Protect the Florida Keys from Jetskis! April 30, 2001 Background The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) is taking comments on personal watercraft use at the sanctuary. By law, NOAA may only authorize in the Sanctuary System those activities which are compatible with the agency's primary mission of resource protection. PWC, better known by the trade name jetski, have been shown to cause significant damage to air and water quality, visitor enjoyment, public health and safety, natural quiet, private property and wildlife. In addition, a recent report conducted by the General Accounting Office (GAO) found that PWC riders enjoy a disproportionate amount of access to federal waterways. In particular, the GAO found that despite the fact that PWC riders represent than two percent of the visiting public, the thrill-craft are permitted in roughly one third of all federally managed waterways. Throughout much of 2000 and into 2001, NOAA convened a working group to investigate management options for controlling PWC problems in FKNMS. The working group has released a list of eight management options. These range from allowing PWC to operate under status quo procedures to an outright prohibition on their operation. What You Can Do! Please urge NOAA to prohibit PWC use throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by sending the a letter to the sanctuary manager at: [log in to unmask] A sample letter is provide below. As always, we would appreciate it if you could cc. your letter to us at: [log in to unmask] If you prefer to send your thoughts via the internet please visit the following link: http://www.earthisland.org/takeaction/new_action.cfm?aaID=47 ####Sample Letter### Lt. Commander Dave Savage Sanctuary Manager FKNMS P.O. Box 1083 Key Largo, FL 33037 Re: Support for PWC management Option Eight Dear Mr. Savage: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) is a national treasure. This area contains and protects some of America's most precious resources and spectacular scenery as well as provides habitat for countless plants and animal life. I am deeply concerned with the threat personal watercraft (PWC) pose to these resources. Under federal law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) can only authorize those activities which are compatible with the agency's primary mission of resource protection. PWC, better known by the trade name jetski, have been shown to cause significant damage to air and water quality, visitor enjoyment, private property, public health and safety, natural quiet and wildlife. Clearly PWC operation at FKNMS violates the agency's mandate to protect sanctuary resources and wildlife. The PWC industry is pushing expanded education programs as well as increased law enforcement efforts as the answers to the countless problems associated with the thrill-craft. Unfortunately, these so-called solutions will do little to reduce the staggering amounts of air, water and noise pollution these machines spew out. Moreover, education and law-enforcement programs are expensive and very labor extensive. It is simply unfair and unreasonable to expect the American public to spend the disproportionate amount of tax dollars required to effectively deal with all the problems associated with the craft. Therefore, I support the PWC working group's option eight management plan, which calls for a ban on PWC operation throughout the entire FKNMS. Option eight is ideal because it is the plan which best complies with federal law, preserves sanctuary resources and wildlife, protects private property as well as the viability of the area economy, and ensures that public funds used by NOAA support programs designed to safeguard and restore the unique place which is FKNMS. I strongly urge NOAA to adopt option eight of the PWC working group's management plan. I thank you for your consideration, I look forward to your response. Sincerely, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]