concerns center on coastal highways and parkways, rest areas that 

 can include water access, and bicycle trails. A most important 

 function of DOT, of course, is to provide financial assistance to 

 construct access roads to outdoor recreation areas. 



Boating 



As of 1975 there are approximately 9 million recreational boats, 18 

 million boat operators, and 50 million boaters. The number of boats 

 and operators are projected to increase at a rate of 5 percent a year 

 with the trend toward more leisure time. Boating often accompanies 

 and stimulates a number of other outdoor activities such as fishing, 

 water skiing, hunting, and swimming. 



The USCG in DOT is involved in a number of programs that 

 benefit recreational boating. The declared purpose of the Federal 

 Boat Safety Act of 1971 (FBSA) is". . . to improve boating safety and 

 to foster greater development, use, and enjoyment of all the waters of 

 the United States. . . ." The act authorizes various means to 

 encourage greater uniformity of boating laws between the various 

 States and the Federal Government and a higher degree of 

 reciprocity and comity among various jurisdictions. This will 

 greatly ease the burdens of the large number of boaters who trailer or 

 sail their craft across jurisdictional lines. The prime means for 

 encouraging this uniformity of State boating programs is theFederal 

 financial assistance authorized under the FBSA. These funds may be 

 used for costs of facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel salaries, 

 personnel training, public boat-safety education, and other expenses 

 that the USCG deems appropriate. 



Another program authorized by the FBSA that provides a major 

 new benefit to recreational boaters is the establishment of national 

 construction and performance safety standards for boats and 

 associated equipment. The FBSA authorizes a defect notification 

 program, similar to the automobile recall program, which requires 

 boat manufacturers to notify owners of safety defects discovered in 

 their boats and to correct the defects. This program also includes 

 requirements for the correction of defects resulting from non- 

 compliance with USCG construction safety standards. 



Some of the USCG's more traditional benefits to the recreational 

 boater include boating education efforts (both classroom and 

 correspondence courses), courtesy boat examinations, regatta and 

 safety patrols, and search and rescue assistance. These latter 

 functions are cooperative efforts between regular USCG personnel 

 and civilian members of the USCG Auxiliary. The USCG's programs 

 of research and development, boating safety, and search and rescue 

 are conducted to improve the safety of the boater. These efforts not 

 only prevent accidents from happening to the boater but also 



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