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EPA, RI DEM and Marine Industry Associations Announce Initiative for Cleaner Small Boat Engines

Release Date: 02/19/2002
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1014

WARWICK, R.I.– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office, the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, the R.I. Marine Trade Association, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Marine Retailers Association of America today announced a voluntary initiative to encourage sales of low-polluting outboard motors and personal watercraft engines in Rhode Island.

The "Get On Board" initiative, modeled after a successful program by the state of New Hampshire and being expanded this year to the other New England states, is designed to accelerate the sale of low-pollution two-and four-stroke marine engines which emit substantially less pollution than conventional marine engines. The conventional engines discharge up to 30 percent of their fuel directly into the water and air as pollution.

Under the initiative, all groups, including RIMTA's members, will work to achieve a goal of selling 75 percent clean engines this year in Rhode Island, 80 percent in 2003, and 95 percent by 2004. EPA regulations require that by 2006, all manufacturers' average emissions for new outboard and personal watercraft engines meet low-pollution standards.

"With 41,000 Rhode Islanders owning boats, these clean engines represent a great opportunity for boaters to take a big collective bite out of pollution entering Narragansett Bay," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "The R.I. Marine Trade Association deserves our congratulations for promoting stewardship of our natural resources through these cleaner, quieter engines."

All parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding today at a ceremony at the Brewer Yacht Club in Warwick. Under the agreement, participating retailers in Rhode Island will encourage customers to buy low-polluting engines. RIMTA and MRAA will encourage member retailers to participate and RIMTA will collect yearly information from members on sales of low-polluting engines, providing statewide totals to EPA and DEM. NMMA will work with manufacturers to help ensure a supply of low-polluting engines.

EPA New England also will be publicizing the campaign, including distribution of brochures and signs for display at retail locations, recognizing participating retailers, and monitoring the success of the program. EPA will also be working in the other New England states on similar programs.

"The R.I. Marine Trade Association has always, and always will, support the environment," said Ken Kubic, president of the R.I. Marine Trade Association. "We strongly supported the no-discharge designation for Narragansett Bay and we strongly support today's agreement with EPA to expedite the sale of low-emission engines in Rhode Island. We think clean air and clean water are crucial to the survival of recreational boating in the Ocean State and the rest of New England."

"As residents of the Ocean State, Rhode Islanders recognize the close relationship between the environment and our quality of life," said Jan H. Reitsma, director of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management. "We've made great strides cleaning our Bay and increasing our efforts to reduce pollution, but more work needs to be done. This initiative is a huge step forward because it will help reduce the amount of pollutants that are released from outboard and personal watercraft engines into Narragansett Bay and other Rhode Island waterways."

With more than 41,000 registered boats in the Ocean State, small marine gasoline engines can have a big impact on the state's waterways. Traditional small boat engines are two-stroke carbureted engines, in which up to 30 percent of the fuel passes through the combustion chamber unburned or partially burned, thereby being released directly into the water and air as pollution. This produces airborne hydrocarbon emissions which contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone or smog. Gasoline discharged to the water elevates concentrations of benzene, MTBE and other toxics in lakes, ponds, and coastal waters.

Current low-pollution marine gasoline engines are either four-stroke or improved, fuel-injected two-stroke engines. Engines meeting EPA low-pollution requirements reduce air pollution by 75 percent or more, lower gasoline discharges to the water, improve fuel efficiency by 35-50 percent, and use up to 50 percent less oil. Other benefits include easier starting, better response, and less smoke and noise. While low-pollution engines cost more initially – typically, 15 percent more – EPA estimates that the savings from lower fuel use will more than repay the difference over the life of the engine.

The program in Rhode Island is modeled after a very successful program by the state of New Hampshire, which has three dozen participating dealers, all of which reached 2001's goal of selling 75 percent clean engines.