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S 2766110th CongressSigned into LawSenate

Clean Boating Act of 2008

Policy Area: Environmental Protection
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
Senate
Last Updated
Dec 5, 2025
Latest Action Date
Jul 29, 2008

Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 110-288.

Official Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Clean Boating Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to provide that no permit shall be required by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the national pollutant discharge elimination system for the discharge from a recreational vessel of graywater, bilge water, cooling water, weather deck runoff, oil water separator effluent, or effluent from properly functioning marine engines or for any other discharge that is incidental to the normal operation of such vessel. Defines a "recreational vessel" as any vessel that is leased, rented, or chartered to a person for that person's pleasure or that is manufactured or used primarily for pleasure, excluding vessels that are subject to Coast Guard inspection and that are engaged in commercial use or that carry paying passengers. Requires the Administrator to: (1) determine the discharges that are incidental to the normal operation (excluding sewage) of a recreational vessel for which it is reasonable and practicable to develop management practices to mitigate adverse impacts on U.S. waters within a year of this Act's enactment and to review such determinations every five years; and (2) develop management practices for recreational vessels to mitigate the adverse impacts of such discharges on U.S. waters. Directs the Administrator, in determining what discharges are incidental to normal operations, to consider: (1) the nature of the discharge; (2) its environmental effects; (3) the practicability of using a management practice; (4) the effect that such practice would have on the operation, operational capability, or safety of the vessel; (5) applicable federal and state law and international standards; and (6) the economic costs of the use of the management practice. Requires the Administrator to: (1) promulgate federal standards of performance (which may distinguish among vessel types) for each discharge for which such a management practice is developed; and (2) review them every five years. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to promulgate regulations governing the design, construction, installation, and use of management practices for recreational vessels as necessary to meet such standards. Prohibits a recreational vessel from operating in or discharging in U.S. waters if such owner or operator is not using applicable management practices in compliance with such regulations.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

The Clean Boating Act of 2008 is a law passed by the 110th Congress and signed into law on July 29, 2008. It falls under the policy area of Environmental Protection and originates from the Senate. The bill text and official summary are not provided, but it is known to have become Public Law No: 110-288. The law likely addresses environmental concerns related to boating activities.

Bottom Line

This law appears to regulate boating activities to protect the environment, reflecting congressional action on water pollution or related issues.

Policy Risk Level
🟡 Medium
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • The bill was introduced in the Senate during the 110th Congress.
  • It was enacted into law on July 29, 2008, becoming Public Law No: 110-288.
  • The policy area is Environmental Protection, suggesting a focus on reducing pollution or environmental harm from boating.
Who Benefits?

Potential beneficiaries include environmental agencies, boating communities, and the general public who rely on clean waterways. The law may also impact industries related to boating and water recreation by establishing standards or regulations.

Potential Concerns

Without the full text or summary, it is unclear what specific regulations or requirements are imposed, which may affect implementation costs or compliance burdens. Missing information limits assessment of tradeoffs or enforcement mechanisms.

Political Context

The bill was passed by the Senate and became law during the 110th Congress, indicating bipartisan agreement or sufficient support for environmental regulation related to boating. Its enactment reflects legislative attention to environmental protection in the mid-2000s.

Hidden Impact Review

No hidden impact flags detected

GovScope reviewed 11 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

Clear Review
Categories Reviewed — Not Detected
Broad agency authority
New regulatory authority
Privacy concerns
Spending increases
Criminal penalties
Civil liability
Unfunded mandates
Executive discretion
Missing sunset provisions
Cross references
Hidden implementation costs
Indirect Effects

Potential indirect effects may include improved water quality and ecosystem health, as well as impacts on boating industry practices and recreational boating behavior. However, specific effects cannot be determined without the bill text.

GovScope Watchdog Notes

The absence of the official summary and full bill text limits the ability to provide a detailed analysis. Citizens interested in the law's provisions and impacts may want to review the full text of Public Law No: 110-288 for comprehensive understanding.

Passage Likelihood: UnknownConfidence: 75%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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