Show Jones Act threatens river runners By Sen Jake Ce Garn rn The Jones Act an unnecessary unnecessary unnecessary un un- necessary restriction on Inflatable inflatable inflatable in- in rubber rafts is threatening the future of professional river runners The Act was conceived many years ago as an effort to preserve the nations nation's shipping industry Its initiators however did not foresee the popularity of white whitewater whitewater whitewater water rafting as it exists today Under the Coast Guard enforced enforced enforced en en- forced law foreign made rafts are not allowed in US U.S. waters This creates two problems domestic suppliers cannot produce sufficient rafts to fill the demand and Coast Guar- Guar ders are now eyeing rubber rafters with thoughts of expanding expanding ex ex- ex their power TilE THE SHORTAGE of American made rafts is acute At last count only three rubber boat manufacturers existed inthis Inthis in inthis this country and their output was negligible Rafter purchased purchased purchased pur pur- chased and used up World War II 11 surplus boats long ago and those that are still in use are safety deficient Presently river runners are by Federal agencies All are under the initial jurisdiction of the Federal land manager through which river runs Thus some rivers are managed by the Bureau of Land Management some by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and some by the Forest Service Now with the Coast Guard also in on the regulatory act the business of running rivers has lx become come an outfitters outfitter's nightmare THE TilE REGULATIONS of the Jones Act have not yet been challenged but it is only a matter of time until they are England France Japan and Taiwan are the largest producers of rafts used in US U.S. rivers their rafts are also the safest The Coast Guard is not planning to certify them If U the foreign boats are not certified or if the maritime agency begins to enforce the law effects would be severe With the current lack of boats river traffic would drop off drastically and many outfitters would be in financial difficulty The economy of Utah and several other states who depend on the rafters rafter's recreational dollars would suffer Outfitters who are not forced out of 01 business may sacrifice safety by resorting t to older domestic boats heats I plan to introduce legislation which would exempt inflatable rafts used on the rivers from regulation under provisions of the Jones Act It would not affect any other provision in the Act as it applies to shipping but would eliminate the current threat to rafting outfitters and white water enthusiasts Marie McKibben upon returning from a trip January 16 found In her mail box an Inaugural Invitation and an Inaugural Guide to Washington DC D.C. Mrs McKibben said she shedid shedid shedid did not work for the Democratic Party or President Carter during his campaign but that i I she had written a couple of letters to him and assumed that was the reason she received the invitation |