ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED LIEU
53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2008
Contact: Ashlie Simpson
Phone: (916) 319-2053

Key Assembly Committee Passes Lieu Bill to Cleanup Waterways

(Sacramento, CA) – Today, legislation authored by Assemblymember Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance) that would allow local public agencies to accept voluntarily surrendered vessels from boat owners for safe disposal, passed its first hurdle. The Assembly Transportation Committee unanimously approved the bill.

"So many cities are dealing with abandoned boats left on their shores or sunken to the bottom of their waterways," stated Assemblymember Lieu. "This legislation gives boat owners and local agencies the ability to be proactive in dealing with these types of vessels before they become a hazard."

California has the second largest boating population in the nation with nearly 1 million registered boats. With such a large population of boating activity, there is an increased need for local public agencies to deal with abandoned vessels that are past their useful life. This would help prevent the abandonment of old and dilapidated boats, which would otherwise create waterway hazards and environmental degradation.

While there are currently programs in place to help local agencies remove abandoned vessels, there is no mechanism to prevent the abandonment of these boats. These abandoned boats not only create hazards in our boating ways, but leak toxins such as fuel and oils into our water. The ability to deal with these boats before they have been abandoned would save local agencies thousands of dollars each year, due to the cost of recovering a sunken boat.

AB 1950 allows local agencies to apply for existing grants to dispose of surrendered vessels. It would also increase fines for irresponsible boat owners who abandon their boats, polluting waterways and creating underwater hazards.

"This bill is a win-win. It protects the environment and our waterways, while saving local agencies thousands of dollars," said Assemblymember Lieu. "With the current budget deficit, the state should do everything in its power to ease the burdens on local government."

AB 1950 is supported by many groups, including the California Sheriffs Association, the Marine Recreation Association and the Western Boaters Safety Group.