Boren, Cole, Inhofe, Coburn, Work With Coast Guard To Settle Guide Licensing Issues On Lake Texoma

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dan Boren, and Tom Cole, together with Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Tom Coburn, continued discussions today with the United States Coast Guard officials to settle recent licensing issues for fishing guides at Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma, considered "navigable waters" by current federal statute because of its location between two states, is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. For the past fifteen years, the Coast Guard has not been enforcing licensing requirements for operators of uninspected passenger vessels like many fishing guides on Lake Texoma.

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Recently, however, the Coast Guard issued flyers around the lake area stating their plans to begin exercising this regulatory authority. In order to be compliant, guides would have to spend hundreds of dollars for exams and licensing fees, or else be subject to heavy fines.

Concern about the sudden appearance of notifications warning enforcement of these regulations on Lake Texoma, threatening the fishing tourism industry, has not gone unnoticed by Oklahoma's elected representatives, who are currently working on a legislative solution.

Rep. Boren:"Everyone involved with these discussions, and those who use the lake, have safety as their chief concern. But to subject the average local fishing guide to the level of licensing requirements that the Coast Guard designed for major ports and waterways is like using a hammer to swat a fly. This sudden enforcement threatens the livelihood of these guides without any real added safety benefit, as the Coast Guard does not maintain a permanent presence on the lake and there are already other state and local agencies enforcing safety requirements. The Oklahoma State Senate recently passed legislation that would allow the Department of Wildlife and Conservation to regulate the guides working on Lake Texoma. It is my understanding that Texas has similar regulatory requirements. I propose allowing the State, not the Coast Guard, to regulate these fishing guides."

Senator Inhofe: "Today, Congressman Boren and I spoke with Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, and he has assured us that the Coast Guard will simply be working with boaters this weekend toward becoming compliant by the end of 2009. The Oklahoma delegation is currently working on legislation that will cede jurisdiction of Lake Texoma to the State of Oklahoma and the State of Texas, so that the federal government cannot interfere in this important industry. I will work with the Oklahoma delegation to continue to monitor the situation at Lake Texoma and ensure that we reach a reasonable and common sense solution."

Congressman Tom Cole: "The licensing requirements that the Coast Guard is proposing to impose, combined with the draconian fines for non-compliance, fly in the face of common sense. And they pose a serious threat to the viability of the charter business at Lake Texoma. I am committed to working with the rest of the delegation, the Coast Guard, and the fishing guides to come up with a common sense solution that maintains their excellent history of safe operations with a minimum of excessive regulations and fines."

Source: Senator James Inhofe