Last week, in a rare showing of bipartisan cooperation, the U.S. House and Senate approved a law that will help recreational boaters deal with environmental regulations, to the consternation of some conservationists.

The Clean Boating Act of 2008 permanently restores a long-standing exemption that allows recreational boats to avoid a costly permit that would otherwise be required under the Clean Water Act.

The legislation now goes to the White House where it is expected to get the president's signature.

The bill followed a 2006 U.S. District Court decision that would have required the owners of an estimated 17 million recreational boats to comply with Clean Water Act permit requirements. The permit would have mandated maintenance and operation procedures and subjected boaters to lawsuits and penalties designed for industrial polluters.

Opponents of the bill say the lower environmental standards enable recreational boaters to pollute the very ecosystems they enjoy.

"This is a fabulous victory for common sense," said Nancy Michelman, president of BoatU.S., a recreational boating industry group. "It just goes to show what can be done when the boating public, the marine industry and its representatives in Congress row together in a bipartisan way."

Among the main backers of the bill was Ohio Rep. Steve LaTourette. The backers included Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representatives Jim Oberstar (D-MN), Candice Miller (R-MI) and Gene Taylor (D-MS).

First Published: August 3, 2008, 4:00 a.m.