&EPA
                   United States
                   Environmental Protection
                   Agency
                     Air and Radiation
EPA420-F-96-003
July 1996
                   Office of Mobile Sources
Consumer
Information
                   Boating Pollution Prevention Tips
                   Cleaner marine engines will soon be available to boaters.
                   You can be more environmentally friendly by following
                   a few tips when using your boat.
                   You Can Make a Difference In Preventing
                   Marine Engine Pollution
                   Currently 12 million marine engines are operated in the United
                   States. These marine engines are among the highest contributors of
                   hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions in many
                   areas of the country. HC and NOx produce ground-level ozone,
                   which irritates the respiratory system causing chest pain and lung
                   inflammation. Ozone can also aggravate existing respiratory
                   conditions such as asthma. Boaters can join many others who are
                   working to make a difference in preventing pollution from marine
                   engines.

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Improving the Marine Engine
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is working to develop
and implement emission standards for
commercial and recreational marine
engines. The marine industry has been
working to develop technology for a new
generation of low emission, high
performance engines. Recreational boaters
will begin seeing this new generation of
engines in coming years.


Boaters  Can Prevent
Pollution
Even with the new technology, the
cooperation of individual boaters is
essential in the effort to improve air
quality and prevent pollution. Boaters
can make a difference that will help
protect the environment
now and in the future by adopting the
following practices:

    •  Limit engine operation at
       full  throttle.
    •  Eliminate unnecessary idling.
    •  Avoid spilling gasoline.
    •  Use a gasoline container you can
       handle easily and hold securely.
    •  Pour slowly and smoothly.
    •  Use a funnel or a spout with an
       automatic stop device to prevent
       overfilling the gas tank.
    •  Close the vent on portable gas
       tanks when the engine is not in
       use  or when the tank is stored.
    •  Transport and store gasoline out
       of direct sunlight in a cool, dry
       place.
     •  Use caution when pumping
       gasoline into a container at the
       gas station.
     •  Carefully measure the proper
       amounts of gasoline and oil
       when refueling.
     •  Follow the manufacturer's
       recommended maintenance
       schedule.
     •  Prepare engines properly for
       winter storage.
     •  Buy new, cleaner marine
       engines.
By combining these strategies, boaters
can reduce pollution from marine
engines and help improve air quality
across the nation and protect public
health.
For More Information
The EPA Office of Mobile Sources
encourages additional information be
obtained electronically via the EPA
Internet server or via dial-up modem on
the Technology Transfer Network
(TTN), an electronic bulletin board
system (BBS).

   World Wide Web: http://www.epa.
   gov/OMSWWW

   TTN BBS: 919-541-5742 (1200-
   14400 bps, no parity, 8 data bits,
   1 stop bit);
   voice helpline: 919-541-5384

Information is also available by calling
313-668-4333, or writing to: U.S. EPA,
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Laboratory, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann
Arbor, Michigan 48105
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