Tahoe May Delay Engine Ban

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on Jan. 27 agreed to consider three changes sought by the boating industry in its ban of two-stroke engines from Lake Tahoe.

The ban primarily affects two-stroke outboard motors and personal watercraft that, together, constitute more than 20% of boats on the lake.

Agency staff now will study the changes, which would allow an extension until October 2001 before the ban on sailboat motors, small craft engines, and some cleaner-burning models takes effect.

Manufacturers and rental companies told the agency they would drop a pending lawsuit against the ban if its effect were delayed until October 2001 for three classes of craft.

An agency employee said that the agency had no solid figures on how many boats would be granted the ban extension under the manufacturer proposal, adding, "That's one thing we need to look into." He also indicated that one possible scenario for cutting the number of offending engines might be a manufacturer program that buys back the higher-polluting engines or offer the newer, cleaner ones at a discount.

The agency instituted the ban after studies showed that two-stroke engines discharge about 25% of their unburned fuel directly into the water. That fuel contains contaminants such as the controversial gasoline additive MTBE.