TRPA poised for final vote on engine ban at Lake Tahoe

The effort comes as the TRPA prepares to vote Wednesday on finalizing its decision to prohibit two-stroke engines that power Jet Skis, other personal watercraft and some boats from the lake beginning in June.

"There are some proposals out there that represent a compromise," said John Fagan, attorney for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

"We've had some very positive discussions that make me optimistic," he said.

Environmentalists and regulators at the bistate agency created by Congress to protect Lake Tahoe say the engines are a major source of pollution because they dump about 25 percent of their fuel unburned into the lake.

"The whole two-cycle issue has reached a real high priority for us," said Jim Baetge, TRPA executive director. "Taking these particular craft off the lake is critical. I don't think there's any question."

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