COLUMBUS, OH -- New agreements between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary incorporate new Homeland Security guidelines and continue the state's strong boating safety education programs.
ODNR Director Sam Speck, ODNR Division of Watercraft Chief Ken Alvey and USCG 9th District Admiral Ronald A. Silva signed an agreement that incorporates new Homeland Security guidelines in defining the enforcement role of each agency on Lake Erie waters.
A separate agreement between ODNR and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary defines the roles of each organization in regards to Ohio's mandatory boater education law. It also defines how ODNR and the USCG Auxiliary will work together to teach approved boating safety courses. The agreement was also was signed by Dolores Kearton, vice-commodore of the USCG Auxiliary 8th District (Eastern Region) and George Webster, Commodore of the USCG Auxiliary 9th District (Eastern Region).
The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers Ohio's boating programs, including watercraft registration and titling operations, and provides grants to local communities for enforcement, education and boating access facilities. The division investigates boating accidents and related fatalities, and enforces state boating laws on Ohio's waterways.
These and other ODNR Division of Watercraft programs are funded through a portion of the state gasoline sales tax in addition to boat registration and titling fees.