FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION [ 58 PA. CODE CHS. 53, 105 AND 111 ] Boating [45 Pa.B. 6689]
[Saturday, November 21, 2015]The Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) proposes to amend Chapters 53, 105 and 111 (relating to Commission property; operational conditions; and special regulations counties). The Commission is publishing this proposed rulemaking under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. (relating to Fish and Boat Code) (code).
A. Effective Date
The proposed rulemaking, if approved on final-form rulemaking, will go into effect upon final-form publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
B. Contact Person
For further information on the proposed rulemaking, contact Laurie E. Shepler, Esq., P. O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, (717) 705-7810. This proposed rulemaking is available on the Commission's web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.
C. Statutory Authority
The proposed amendment to § 53.8 (relating to boats) is published under the statutory authority of section 741 of the code (relating to control of property). The proposed amendment to § 105.4 (relating to overloading and improper loading) is published under the statutory authority of section 5123 of the code (relating to general boating regulations). The proposed amendment to § 111.40 (relating to Luzerne County) is published under the statutory authority of section 5124 of the code (relating to particular areas of water).
D. Purpose and Background
The proposed rulemaking is designed to simplify and improve the Commission's boating regulations. The specific purpose of the proposed amendments is described in more detail under the summary of proposals. On July 31, 2015, the Boating Advisory Board (BAB) considered these proposals and recommended that the Commission approve the publication of a proposed rulemaking.
E. Summary of Proposals
(1) Earlier this year, the Commission was contacted by numerous boaters and an outfitter regarding § 53.8 that prohibits the use of single-chambered inflatable boats on its lakes. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Department) has a similar regulation that prohibits the use of these boats on State Park lakes. These regulations were promulgated prior to the manufacture and widespread availability of high-quality, durable inflatable canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle- boards.
The use of other inflatable devices is addressed in other sections of Chapter 53 as well. Section 53.16(c) (relating to special use) prohibits launching or retrieving swimming aids such as inner tubes from Commission-owned or Commission-controlled access areas. Float tubes on Commission-owned or Commission-controlled lakes are addressed in § 53.19 (relating to use of float tubes on Commission-controlled lakes). Specifically, they must have a secondary bladder for additional emergency flotation and the user shall wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.
Thirty-three states responded to a survey administered by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) regarding special regulations relating to the use of inflatable boats. One of the respondents indicated that single-chambered air-inflated devices do not meet that state's definition of ''vessel.'' Another respondent indicated that single-chambered inflatable vessels are prohibited from use statewide. There were no other responses regarding special regulations for recreational use of single-chambered inflatable boats. Additionally, NASBLA does not have a model act regarding inflatable vessels. Therefore, states may deal with specific issues as they see fit.
A review of recreational boating accident statistics in this Commonwealth reveals that there have not been reportable accidents regarding loss of inflation for incidents involving inflatable boats since 1985. With the recent advent of high-quality, durable inflatable boats with less than two separate buoyancy chambers, such as inflatable standup paddleboards, the Commission believes that the current regulation is overly restrictive and may be eliminated. The Commission therefore proposes to amend § 53.8 to read as set forth in Annex A.
(2) The Commission wishes to clarify its regulations regarding overloading and improper loading by adopting language recommended by NASBLA's Model Act for Maximum Loading and Horsepower Capacity Compliance. This model act prohibits the operation of certain recreational vessels when those vessels exceed their loading or powering capacities or exceed the capacity limits identified on the vessel's capacity label or through calculations presented in the Code of Federal Regulations. The Commission therefore proposes to amend § 105.4 to read as set forth in Annex A.
(3) Lily Lake is a 160-acre impoundment situated on a 376-acre parcel owned by the Commission in southeastern Luzerne County. The Commission acquired Lily Lake in 1968. When the Commission initially acquired Lily Lake, there was controversy over what uses of the lake should be allowed. Cottage owners insisted on water skiing and high-speed motorboat operation. Staff were opposed to high-powered motorboat activity on the lake primarily because of the size of the lake (approximately 90 acres of boatable water) and concern that allowing water skiing and internal combustion motors would create a safety hazard. The Lily Lake Property Owners' Association (Association) retained legal counsel and sent the Commission a letter on June 29, 1970, detailing its request for a 60 horsepower limitation and other proposals. However, before negotiations with the property owners concluded, the Commission adopted regulations at its May 3, 1971, meeting prohibiting internal combustion engines on Commission lakes. The minutes from that meeting state that ''the regulations adopted for all wholly owned Fish Commission lakes [are to] be applied to Lily Lake.'' The Association again submitted a proposal in 1972 that they believed would allow for compatible, multiple uses of boats for fishing and other activities, including water skiing.
On April 6, 1973, the Commission's Executive Director provided a report on the situation to the Commissioners and referred the matter to the BAB for study. On May 16, 1973, members of the BAB met with the Association to develop a consensus proposal. As a result, they mutually agreed to a high-speed operating zone where all ski operations would occur and that would be buoyed by the Commission. The high-speed operating zone was proposed as being 2,000 feet long and 650 feet wide and approximately 75 feet from the northern shore which was uninhabited.
In addition, the Association proposed a limit of 60 horsepower and maximum of 18 feet in length for all boats on the lake, as initially recommended by their attorney in 1970. The rationale provided at the time was ''the 60 HP limitation will make it unattractive to the hard core water skier but would still permit the several cottage owners who own 60 HP boats now to continue to use them.'' Also expressed was a concern of attracting a large number of boats from outside the area, but it was believed that the horsepower limitation would minimize that.
During discussion of the consensus proposal at a BAB meeting on August 20, 1973, a Commissioner noted that the main reason for the Commission's allowing the use of only electric motors on its lakes was to ''prevent noise and pollution.'' He further stated that since these elements were already present on Lily Lake when the Commission acquired it in 1968, this rationale had to be discounted at this lake.
The consensus proposal was advanced from the BAB to the Commission, and upon approval at its October 20, 1973, meeting, the Commission published a proposed rulemaking at 3 Pa.B. 2882 (December 15, 1973) to prohibit the use of boats with greater than 60 horsepower engines or greater than 18 feet in length on Lily Lake. Additionally, boats were limited to slow, no wake speed except those operating within the buoyed high speed operating zone, between noon and sunset from the Saturday preceding Memorial Day to September 30. No public comments were received. The regulation went into effect upon final-form publication at 4 Pa.B. 133 (January 26, 1974).
The regulations for Lily Lake have seen minor amendments since 1973. However, there have not been changes to the horsepower or boat length limitations since adoption. The current Permit to Install Floating Structures and Private Aids to Navigation indicates the high-speed zone as 1,500 feet by 600 feet, mid-lake along the opposite shoreline from the boat launch and homes.
The Commission maintains a surfaced launch ramp and parking at Lily Lake that can accommodate 18 vehicle-trailer combinations and more than 25 cars. To date, there are no reportable recreational boating accidents recorded for Lily Lake.
On May 18, 2015, Commission representatives met with members of the Association. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a request from the property owners association to increase the maximum allowable horsepower to 90 and boat length to 25 feet.
The Commission owns four lakes with horsepower or speed restrictions and the Department owns ten. A comparison of lake acreage to horsepower or mile-per-hour restrictions on these lakes indicates that Lily Lake is currently the second smallest lake and has the highest horsepower allowance.
Name County Owner Acreage Horsepower or Mile-per-Hour Restriction Pymatuning Reservoir Crawford Department 17,088 20 horsepower Lake Arthur Butler Department 3,225 20 horsepower Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Centre Department 1,730 45 mile-per-hour Lake Wilhelm Mercer Department 1,680 20 horsepower Glendale Lake Cambria Department 1,635 20 horsepower East Branch Clarion River Lake Elk Department 1,554 45 mile-per-hour Nockamixon Lake Bucks Department 1,450 20 horsepower Lake Marburg York Department 1,275 20 horsepower Beltzville Lake Carbon Department 949 45 mile-per-hour Yellow Creek Lake Indiana Department 720 20 horsepower Harveys Lake Luzerne Commission 658 45 mile-per-hour Lake Canadohta Crawford Commission 169 10 horsepower Lily Lake Luzerne Commission 160 60 horsepower Sugar Lake Crawford Commission 90 6 horsepower
The Commission's local law enforcement staff recommend a change to allow boats up to 20 feet in length but that the Commission maintains the horsepower limitation at 60 due to the small size of the impoundment. Boat registration records reveal that an increase in length will potentially allow for an additional 1,672 actively registered motorboats in Luzerne County and the 7 surrounding counties to operate on Lily Lake. It is predicted that the increased length allowance will enhance boating opportunities for the lake residents and northeast region without having a significant impact on user conflicts or safety on this small impoundment. The Commission therefore proposes to amend § 111.40 to read as set forth in Annex A.
F. Paperwork
The proposed amendments will not increase paperwork and will not create new paperwork requirements.
G. Fiscal Impact
The proposed amendments will not have adverse fiscal impact on the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions. The proposed amendments will not impose new costs on the private sector or the general public.
H. Public Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, objections or suggestions about the proposed rulemaking to the Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P. O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000 within 30 days after publication of this proposed rulemaking in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.
Comments also may be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.
JOHN A. ARWAY,
Executive DirectorFiscal Note: 48A-268. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A TITLE 58. RECREATION PART II. FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION Subpart A. GENERAL PROVISIONS CHAPTER 53. COMMISSION PROPERTY § 53.8. Boats.
* * * * * [(f) Inflatable boats used on Commission lakes shall be at least 7 feet in length, made of durable reinforced fabric and have at least two separate buoyancy chambers exclusive of any inflatable floor or bottom.
(g)] (f) A boat using a Commission lake or access area must be registered and display the official registration number and current validation stickers described under Subpart C and Part III of the code.
* * * * * Subpart C. BOATING CHAPTER 105. OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS § 105.4. Overloading and improper loading.
(a) A person may not operate a boat when the boat is loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity[, taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions.] as determined by one of the following:
(1) The boat's maximum weight capacity.
(2) The boat's maximum persons capacity.
(3) The boat's maximum horsepower.
(4) Capacity limits as identified on the boat's capacity label or through calculations provided by the United States Coast Guard through the Commission.
(b) A person may not operate a boat loaded in a manner that adversely affects its trim or stability, taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions.
CHAPTER 111. SPECIAL REGULATIONS COUNTIES § 111.40. Luzerne County.
(a) Lily Lake.
(1) Boats with greater than 60 horsepower engines or greater than [18] 20 feet in length are prohibited.
* * * * * [Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-2046. Filed for public inspection November 20, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
