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Thursday, 13 March 2008 21:22 |
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PWC acquaintances of mine put in almost a full day meeting with management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sanctuaries and Preserves programs in early March. From what I hear, their accomplishment at the literal end of the day was spending a full day out of their own offices, and not much else. This apparent lack of meaningful outcome was due to the complete inflexibility on NOAA’s part when it came to PWC regulations in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). NOAA’s Sanctuaries and Preserves programs have had many positive accomplishments in raising the awareness level of national marine resources, but their record at MBNMS is one that has the fate of PWC sealed in a coffin.
Following are examples of NOAA’s ‘no negotiation’ approach to PWC issues at Monterey. In a meeting with some of the same NOAA folks eight months earlier (July 2007) the PWC folks were told that their sense of urgency about the PWC regulations could not be an emergency for NOAA. Now in March of 2008, NOAA said the Monterey management plan may be released in August of 2008. It seems terribly disingenuous or perhaps simply arrogant on the part of NOAA to not find time in 13 months to further discuss PWC concerns. Another example of the inflexibility of NOAA emerged in one of the comments of the Sanctuary manager directed at the PWC representatives. This person said that PWC operator concerns should not just be about safety and “green” practices, but should also include following the law. Now what the heck was THAT supposed to mean? Did they mean that PWC operators don’t follow laws, but which laws? Did they mean that after writing less than ten citations to PWC operators in 16 years, NOAA suddenly has a law enforcement problem? And if there is a law enforcement problem, what is NOAA doing about it? On this last point, without answering what type of laws or whether the violations occurred in state or federal waters, NOAA apparently replied they couldn’t catch the alleged offenders,. For state violations, there are harbor patrols, fish and game agents and county sheriffs, none of whom have said they have enforcement issues with PWC operators. So my PWC acquaintances once again were stonewalled by NOAA regarding future PWC use in Monterey. Sixteen years of NOAA management of over 5000 square miles of open waters of the North Pacific, and all NOAA can offer is a vague statement, unsupported by facts or documentation, that PWC operators need to follow the law. Here is one of the premier science oriented federal agencies, making statements that sound like grade school kids squabbling about a game of kickball. |
John Donaldson is not the longest serving PWC government relations guy, but he’s close. He had been in the power sports industry for over a decade when his then employer decided his gift for gab and ability to write completely confusing letters were a perfect match for dealing with politicians and legislators. Since the course change in his work history, Donaldson has worked for two of the biggest PWC manufacturers as well as having a turn at running the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. Donaldson says that these government relations experiences have helped him understand that it sure isn’t the government one learns about in a text book. Further in Donaldson’s past was his service in the U.S. Coast Guard and a few years as owner of a major power sports dealership in Southern California. This diversity of government, manufacturer, and retail experience qualifies Donaldson to help keep AWA members and others informed on the latest activities of government impact on the use of PWC in the PWC Nation. 
Chris Manthos serves as executive director of the American Watercraft Association. When not riding, he dedicates his time to educating regulators and other officials on the realities of personal watercraft, in contrast to the fantasy world of the no-access crowd. He mows his own lawn, washes his own truck, served his country, pays his taxes, picks up trash on public roads, opens his own beer bottles, reads books, hunts, feeds his own dogs, doesn’t need government to tell him right from wrong, and deplores sanctimonious hypocrites, bullies, and know-it-alls, particularly the political kind. 
Wiley Russell Jr. is the dealer coordinator of the AWA and works closely with personal watercraft dealers nationwide, promoting PWC access for all enthusiasts, as well as promoting dealerships. He is a Virginia native and enjoys riding PWC as much as possible. 
