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Boatyards Get Boost in Workers’ Comp Bill
From the Sun-Sentinel – By William E. Gibson, Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — Smaller boatyards would save tens of thousands of dollars a year on workers’ compensation insurance under a bill passed by the U.S. House on Tuesday — a long-awaited boost for a big industry in Florida. Florida lawmakers led by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz pushed… Continue reading
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President Obama Signs Dredging Legislation into Law
President Obama signed bipartisan legislation this week acknowledging that recreational boating is a significant contributor to the nation’s economy, according to BoatUS, which said it will work to implement the law. Obama signed the $12.3 billion 2013 Water Resources Reform and Development Act, or WRRDA, which passed the House and Senate earlier this month. The bill… Continue reading
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Report: Industry Unhappy with Magnuson-Stevens Bill in House
From Sounding’s Trade Only: The recreational fishing and boating community is expressing collective disappointment after a saltwater fishing bill in the U.S. House of Representatives failed to address the community’s top priorities. A reauthorization bill for the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act — the primary law governing U.S. marine fisheries management — did not… Continue reading
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NFPA 33 Update: New Standard Set to be Published in 2015
Via Soundings Trade Only– The National Fire Protection Committee on Spray Finishing, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Lauderdale Marine Center approved a new standard that reduces the risks involved in spray-painting large objects, including yachts in temporary membrane enclosures. Such enclosures are used in the marine industry for the painting of yachts that… Continue reading
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NMMA Economic Overview
NMMA Economic Overview December 19, 2013 NMMA Economic Overview, formerly Boating News Net, is a monthly report on boating and economic markets featuring industry and general economic indicators that impact your business. U.S. Economic Indicators + GDP Third quarter GDP growth was upwardly revised to 3.6% from 2.8%, primarily reflecting a greater pickup in inventory investment and… Continue reading
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EPA Hearing on Ethanol Set for Thursday
The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a hearing Thursday to receive testimony on a proposal that would lower the required amount of ethanol in the fuel supply for the first time ever. The required amount is now 13 billion gallons, which is the total saturation at E10, or fuel with 10 percent ethanol, which is… Continue reading
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EPA Proposes Reducing Biofuel Mandate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Friday proposed to reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply for the first time, acknowledging that the biofuel law championed by both parties in 2007 is not working as well as expected. While the proposal highlights the government’s struggle to ramp up production of homegrown… Continue reading
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Lawsuit Threat Against the EPA Could Affect Marine Industry
Environmental groups are threatening the Environmental Protection Agency with a lawsuit that could result in additional regulations for boatbuilders. The Sierra Club and California Communities Against Air Toxics said in an Aug. 26 letter recently posted to the EPA’s website that the agency failed to review toxics standards for 46 industries, including the marine industry,… Continue reading
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US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Florida Houseboat Owner
Supreme Court rules for Florida activist, deciding his engine-less, steering-less dwelling was not a ‘vessel’ Continue Reading Continue reading
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Federal Grants Available for Shipyard Expansion
The U.S. Maritime Administration has begun accepting applications from qualified small shipyards for a share of $9.45 million in federal funding to help expand. Continue reading over at The Triton. Continue reading