TRPA agrees to partial compromise on two-stroke engines

Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999 | 9:24 a.m.

But after lengthy debate Wednesday between environmentalists, regulators, marine manufacturers and boating enthusiasts, the question of temporary exemptions for other certain small outboard motors and Jet Skis and other personal watercraft remained up in the air.

The TRPA has already voted to ban two-stroke engines from the lake beginning in June because they dump one-fourth of their fuel unburned into Lake Tahoe.

Critics have filed a federal court lawsuit against the ban. But they say they are willing to drop the suit if the TRPA grants some concessions.

Besides the exemption for sailboat motors, they want exemptions until 2001 for small outboards powered by motors of less than 10 horsepower and person watercraft that meet EPA discharge standards.

Manufacturers offered to help educate boaters on how to avoid polluting the lake, to provide personal watercraft to help TRPA enforce its regulations and to provide 1,000 bilge sponges to cut back on pollution.

But Gordon Barrett, a chief planner for the bistate agency, said that's not enough and urged the governing board to deny any exemptions, including one for sailboats.

"Time's run out. It's time to act," he said. "At this point we are saying keep the ordinance as it is. Go ahead, pursue the lawsuit. We've got a good case."

John Fagan, a lawyer for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, was angered by agency staff's attack of what he called a fair plan that could lead to the dismissal of the lawsuit.

"If you do the right things, I commit to you, we will have this lawsuit dismissed," Fagan said.

The board gave agency staff and opponents the option to continue negotiations and return with another proposal next month.

Otherwise, the two-stroke ban will be enacted in June as planned with the exception of sailboat engines. The U.S. District Court suit would also proceed, with a trial date set for May.