H 3287 General Bill, By D.A. Wright, J. Rama and D.C. Waldrop
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 12
 to Chapter 25, Title 50, so as to regulate the lawful noise level and the
 exhaust systems of motors used to propel watercraft; and to repeal Article 11,
 Chapter 25, Title 50 relating to motorboats on Lake Wylie.

   01/23/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   01/23/91  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-8
   04/17/91  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental
                     Affairs HJ-6
   04/24/91  House  Objection by Rep. Klapman HJ-20
   04/24/91  House  Amended HJ-20
   04/24/91  House  Read second time HJ-20
   04/25/91  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-64
   04/25/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-22
   04/25/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-22

April 24, 1991

H. 3287

S. Printed 4/24/91--H.

Read the first time January 23, 1991.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 12 TO CHAPTER 25, TITLE 50, SO AS TO REGULATE THE LAWFUL NOISE LEVEL AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS OF MOTORS USED TO PROPEL WATERCRAFT; AND TO REPEAL ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER 25, TITLE 50 RELATING TO MOTORBOATS ON LAKE WYLIE.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 12

Section 50-25-610. Pleasure motorboats must be equipped and maintained with an effective muffler or underwater exhaust system. An effective muffler enables the boat to meet the noise level limitation of Section 50-25-620. An underwater exhaust system is one which has exhaust outlets which are below the water line in all modes of boat operation.

Section 50-25-620. Pleasure motorboats may not exceed 90 dB(A) when subjected to a stationary sound level test as prescribed by SAE J2005 (Draft - Stationary Sound Level Measurement Procedure for Pleasure Motorboats).

Section 50-25-630. No person may operate a pleasure motorboat on the waters of this State in a manner so as to exceed a sound level of 75 dB(A) measured as specified in SAE J1970 (Draft - Shoreline Sound Level Measurement Procedure).

Section 50-25-640. No person may manufacture or offer for sale a motorboat manufactured after June 30, 1991, for use on the waters of this State if that motorboat may not be operated to comply with the exhaust system requirements in Section 50-25-610 and the noise levels established in Sections 50-25-620 and 50-25-630.

Section 50-25-650. This article applies to all public waters over which the State has jurisdiction.

Section 50-25-660. This articles does not apply to:

(1) a motorboat tuning up, testing for, or participating in official trials for speed records or a sanctioned race conducted pursuant to a permit issued by an appropriate unit of government;

(2) a motorboat being operated by a boat or marine engine manufacturer for the purpose of testing or development.

(3) boats operated for law enforcement, emergency medical, civil defense, noxious weed control, military, state and federal approved wildlife banding, and surveying and biological research program purposes."

SECTION 2. Article 11, Chapter 25, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 1991.