NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO 65102
| For further information contact: | Sergeant Gerard G. Callahan Public Information Director Phone: (573) 751-3333 E-mail: Jerry.Callahan@mswp.dps.mo.gov |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jefferson City
New Buoy Regulations
The Missouri State Water Patrol has finalized proposed changes to buoy guidelines. The changes will become permanent with the approval of the amendments to the Code of State Regulations.
Effective immediately, the Water Patrol will utilize the proposed changes as temporary guidelines to allow the moratorium of new buoy permits to be lifted. Applications may be submitted, which meet the proposed guidelines, to be heard at upcoming public buoy hearings. Although the proposed buoy guidelines now require applications to be received forty-five (45) days prior to the hearing date to be heard, the Water Patrol will allow applications for the September 15th hearing to be received until August 8th, due to the late disclosure of the proposed guidelines. The forty-five (45) day requirement will be enforced for future public hearings.
Colonel Rad Talburt, Commission of the Missouri State Water Patrol, reviewed recommendations from the Water Patrol's buoy committee, input from concerned citizens and other interested parties prior to approving of the changes. Colonel Talburt has maintained throughout this process "the safety of Missouri's waterways has always been the focal point of these changes. The Water Patrol is appreciative of all the thoughtful input that was received from those concerned about this important public safety issue."
In addition to the proposed changes, dock owners will have the opportunity to purchase a no wake sign for their dock from private vendors. The sign is a reminder of the no wake law within one hundred (100') feet of docks and includes the Missouri State Water Patrol's logo, if specifications for the sign are met. A sample of the sign is available on the Water Patrol's web site as well.
The significant changes to the buoy guidelines are listed below. A completed set of guidelines to be amended is available on the Missouri State Water Patrol's web site.
· Applications must be submitted forty-five (45) days prior to the hearing date instead of thirty (30) days.
· The applicant must submit a plot map which indicates property owners in the area. The plot map may be combined with the traditional diagram that has always been required by applicants.
· Docks within three hundred (300') feet of the applicant's dock must now be indicated on the diagram. The previous requirement was two hundred (200') feet.
· Generally speaking, if another dock owner has a valid buoy permit within three hundred (300') feet of the applicant's dock, the application will be denied.
· Beginning April 1st, 2009, permitted buoys must have the permit number displayed with a minimum one (1") inch block style black numbers located within three (3") inches of the top of the buoy (visible from the side). The permit number must be maintained in a legible manner.
· Effective January 1st, 2009, buoy permits previously issued to private non-marina docks will not be transferable upon a change of ownership to the property. New property owners must apply for a new permit under the recommended guidelines.
· Permitted buoys are required to be placed and maintained from April 1st to October 1st of each year. The original guidelines only required this from May 1st to Labor Day.
Permitted buoys may be left in the water year round as long as the buoy is maintained in compliance with the permit.
News Release ID: N07080115
Release Date: 20080714
