Bans intended to protect the environment from the pollution of personal watercrafts (PWCs) have hurt the economy instead, according to a recent study.
The bans on these watercrafts, or jet skis, as well as the negative publicity generated by them, have cost an estimated $2.7 billion since 1995, according to a study conducted by economist Laura Baughman from The Trade Partnership, an economic research firm based in Washington, D.C.
“This economic loss is widespread due to the many sectors of the U.S. economy that support the production of PWCs and the tourism industry that supplies boaters,” Baughman explained in a statement this week.
“The lifting of these bans would generate billions of dollars and thousands of jobs for Americans,” she adds.
In 2002, the Fire Island Seashore was included in a list of national parks where PWC use was prohibited, due to the unknown effects the watercrafts would have on the environment and its wildlife.
Advances in technology following the ban eliminated 90 percent of environmental pollution given off by the vehicles, according to a representative from the Fire Island chapter of the National Park Service.
“[PWCs] are among the most environmentally friendly boats on the water,” says Maureen Healy, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association, “Every environmental assessment to date shows that these bans are baseless.”
Following the Fire Island assessment, regulated PWC use was restored to the Seashore in 2005, but many parks did not complete this review process in the two-year grace period they were given, and the bans were enacted anyway.
However, while environmental requirements have been met, safety is still an issue.
PWC's are involved in nearly 25 percent of all accidents, according to the U.S Coast Guard's most recent annual report. Seventy percent of fatalities, resulting from those accidents, involved operators who had not received safety instruction.
In New York, PWC's are regulated through licensing and age requirements, but many states only have an age requirement. If the ban is lifted in these states, riders who have had no instruction will be allowed to operate PWC's.
"We don't think we are ready for this in national parks," says Congressman Gary Ackerman. (D-Queens, LI) "We believe operators should be licensed, take tests, and be of a certain age."
Jaclyn Gallucci 02/23/2006 4:41 pm
http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=1...icle&a_id=7583 
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