I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3303
To amend title 46, United States Code, to require that houseboats that
have on board an electric power generator shall be equipped with a
carbon monoxide venting system.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 15, 2001
Mr. MCINNIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 46, United States Code, to require that
houseboats that have on board an electric power gener-
ator shall be equipped with a carbon monoxide venting
system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Following the fatalities of 2 young boys on
Lake Powell in August 2000, numerous investiga-
tions and studies have been performed to determine
the potential danger that carbon monoxide poses to
houseboat users. The results of an interagency com-
pilation of case reports indicates 22 carbon mon-
oxide-related fatalities and 149 nonfatal cases of
carbon monoxide poisoning on houseboats in United
States waters.
(2) A study performed by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health under the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention and the De-
partment of Health and Human Services, reported
in August 2001, showed that exhausting houseboat
generators through dry stack exhaust configurations
resulted in a reduction in carbon monoxide con-
centrations on houseboats of approximately 99 per-
cent when compared to the rear exhaust configura-
tion. Peak concentrations on the upper deck of a
houseboat exceeded the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists excursion limit
of 125 parts per million for the side and rear ex-
haust configurations, but were dramatically lower for
the stack exhaust.
(3) When 3 houseboats were tied together, the
dry stack exhaust configuration showed carbon mon-
oxide average concentrations ranging from 6 to 14
parts per million, compared to 104 to 777 parts per
million for side and rear exhaust configurations.
(4) Average concentrations provide a solid com-
parison between generator exhaust configurations.
However, peak exposures provide information more
relevant to the important health hazards.
(5) When several houseboats were tied together,
and using a combination of rear and side exhaust
ports, peak concentrations of carbon monoxide on
the swim platforms exceeded the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health Immediately
Dangerous to Life and Health standard of 1,200
parts per million.
(6) The final findings of the August 2001 study
and prior National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health studies indicate that houseboats retro-
fitted with a generator exhaust stack that extends
well above the upper deck will greatly reduce the
risk of generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning
and possible death to individuals on or near the
houseboat.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT THAT HOUSEBOATS BE EQUIPPED
WITH CARBON MONOXIDE VENTING SYSTEM.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Chapter 45 of title 46, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 3507. Carbon monoxide venting from houseboats
‘‘(a) A houseboat that has on board an electric power
generator shall be equipped with—
‘‘(1) a dry stack system; or
‘‘(2) another system to vent carbon monoxide
that has been certified by the Secretary or the Na-
tional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
as being at least as effective as a dry stack system
in reducing the hazard of carbon monoxide exposure
to individuals located on or near the houseboat.
‘‘(b) In this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘dry stack system’ means an
electric power generator exhaust stack that extends
at least 9 feet above the highest deck of a vessel.
‘‘(2) The term ‘houseboat’ means, as specified
in regulations issued by the Secretary—
‘‘(A) a small passenger vessel; and
‘‘(B) a recreational vessel described in
paragraph (25)(B) of section 2101 of this
title.’’.
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply after the expiration of the 180-day
period beginning on the effective date of regulations issued
by the Secretary to implement this section.
(c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall—
(1) issue regulations implementing this section;
or
(2) report to the Congress regarding why such
regulations have not been issued.
(d) SECRETARY DEFINED.—In this section the term
‘‘Secretary’’ has the meaning given that term by section
2101 of title 46, United States Code.
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