New CG guide licensing option?

[Steve Foss]

Hey all:

Looking for some updates. Last I heard, before he lost the election Oberstar had authored a bill (which I believe was passed and signed) establishing a lower standard of testing/lincensure than the Coast Guard 6-Pack license process for guides up in this border area.

Does anyone know the status or further details of this?

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Steve,

In the last communication that our Lake Vermilion Guides League Chairman had with the new Coast Guard Captain in Superior last week he was told that the Coast Guard had submitted documents pertaining to this matter to their superiors quite q while ago and have gotten no answers back.

Cliff

[Steve Foss]

Thanks Cliff.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

I believe the Oberstar deal was just to eliminate the need for a TWIC card and that was it..?

We might be having a class up here (Tower area) in April for the 6 pac (or limited should it be available)

more news as we get it..

[Steve Foss]

The TWIC card requirement is gone, according to Oberstar's press release late last year. He also says the C.G. will back off on discretionary enforcement, and that there was a less strict testing/licensing system in the works for folks up here.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Yea that sounds about right.. they have been working on this "new less strict licence" since the whole thing started.. This is mainly what we have been waiting to hear about.. and waiting and wating. Hopefully we know something before opener.. who knows? You will never get a straight answer.