Comment Log Display

Ms. Liane Randolph
Chair CARB
c/o Harborcraft
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814



My name is Richard Powers. I presently own and operate two large
charter boats out of Bodega Bay, California. I have owned four
C.P.F.V's in the past 45 years, a full-service bait and tackle
shop, a charter boat reservation service, and a restaurant all
built around the charter boat sportfishing business. My business
has employed hundreds of people over the years and my vessels have
carried hundreds of thousands of clients on sportfishing, whale
watching, pelagic bird, and marine Eco trips. 
The engine emission regulations that C.A.R.B has proposed for our
industry if adopted will most certainly put myself and many others
who provide the public access to the ocean out of business. Our
vessels are registered as commercial by the State of California.
C.A.R.B for some reason has chosen to remove the commercial
designation from our vessels. They are continuing to allow
commercial fishing vessels to repower and follow upgrades to Tier 2
and Tier 3 engines. As a result of C.A.R.B's decision, the charter
boat industry has been excluded from this process. 
We have been told by engine manufactures that Tier 4 marine engines
do not exist and that the heat/size/weight of these engines would
not work or be allowed by the USCG on our existing boats. C.A.R.B
has maintained that vessel replacement is the answer and steel
would be the construction material to be used. All four of my
vessels are and have been of fiberglass construction. I cannot
afford to purchase new vessels to comply. Economically the cost of
vessel replacement would sum into millions of dollars for two
boats.
I have worked on charter boats since my early years and have been
blessed to make this my life profession. The thought of losing this
industry up and down our beautiful coast is extremely disturbing to
say the least. Coastal communities rely on our vessels operations
to provide ocean access to the public and the tourists that
frequent our coastal towns. The financial impact will be
devastating to our communities and the businesses that rely on us.
The biggest loss will be to the public, who use our vessels as
access to the ocean and its bounties. Observing marine life in its
natural environment will become a thing of the past along with
providing healthy affordable recreation and sustainable
sportfishing opportunities for the public.

Thank you,

Richard Powers
Owner Operator
Bodega Bay Sportfishers LLC
President Golden Gate Fisherman's Association