Lawsuit against TRPA two-stroke ban put on hold

According to TRPA spokeswoman Pam Drum, the judge in the case stayed proceedings until Dec. 18. The lawsuit was filed in October 1997.

The TRPA announced recently that its proposed June 1999 ban on two-stroke engines that power the watercraft would be replaced in December with an ordinance patterned after the California Resources Board's new emission regulations.

"We felt it wasn't a wise, expedient use of public resources to continue litigation on an ordinance we intend to change," Drum said.

Drum added the stay was the result of a status conference and it was a mutual decision by both sides.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Personal Watercraft Industry Association, the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Recreation Association and several other watercraft rental firms and residents.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, claims TRPA's phaseout of two-stroke engines by 1999 is unfounded and unfairly singles out engines.

The ordinance that TRPA staffers intend to propose to their board in December will focus on emission standards rather than specific engine types. Officials have said a regulation on emissions will be easier to support scientifically, and would be easier to enforce.

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