August 17, 1998

Contact: Geoffrey Ryan (718/595-5371)

City To Remove Derelict and Unpermitted Boats at Reservoirs

Commissioner Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E., of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that watershed inspectors are canvassing the City's upstate reservoirs to identify boats that do not have current permits or are not properly stored at designated areas on shore. DEP will attempt to notify those owners who can be identified. Owners, who fail to bring their boats into compliance, will have their boats removed. Boats that are not claimed within 30 days of removal may be disposed of by DEP.

Commissioner Miele said, "We hear complaints that some boats appear to be derelict and that others are stored on shore in inappropriate locations. Derelict boats stored in designated areas that are filled to capacity deprive active permittees of desirable locations at which to keep their boats."

"People with boats at the reservoirs have a responsibility to keep permits up to date and to store boats at designated areas," Commissioner Miele continued. "While DEP tries to notify owners that their permits are out of date, we cannot alert owners whose boats don't have proper identification labels. So owners should check both their permits and their boats for compliance."

The City's fishing and boating regulations provide that the fee for removal of a boat is $90.00, and a storage fee of $1.00 per day applies. Boating permits are issued, free of charge, for a five-year period and have expiration dates printed on them. The Department's boating permit identification must be affixed to the permitted boat. If permit identification is removed from a boat, the owner should notify the appropriate permit office (see listing below) immediately.

"I want to remind owners," said Commissioner Miele, "that the regulations require boats to remain on City property at designated winter storage areas above the high water mark from December 1st to April 1st. The regulations also provide that permittees must notify DEP in advance of removing a boat from City property, and that the boat may not be returned to City property until it has been inspected, steam cleaned and the boating permit has been validated."

For the convenience of applicants, Boating Permits may be renewed by mailing the Permit, with photo copies of the owner's New York City Fishing Permit and New York State Fishing License, plus a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to the issuing office. New permits may be obtained by advance appointment from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, March 15th through October 15th each year at the following Departmental offices:

Fishing Permits may be obtained at the above hours and locations except Schoharie. (Fishing Permits are only issued at the Schoharie office in conjunction with Boating Permits.)

Fishing Permits (not boating) may also be obtained during normal business hours Monday through Friday at: