Tim Gamble, Red Hook Boaters Outreach Coordinator

May 22, 2008 US Dept. Homeland Security US Coast Guard. Re Docket Number: USCG—2007-0074 Dear Sirs, I am the outreach coordinator for the Red Hook Boaters based in Brooklyn New York. The Red Hook Boaters are an all volunteer 501C3 not for profit organization that runs free kayaking and beach clean-up programs at the Valentino Pier in Red Hook. All our programs are completely free and open to the general public. All our staff are unpaid volunteers. Through our actions almost 1,000 residents of Brooklyn have been able to enjoy the local waters from a kayak safely, and at no cost. Because many people come to our programs multiple times we have given out about 2,000 kayak rides. We are expanding our program, and this year we will run kayak trips into the harbor. I am an experienced kayak guide, and have been paddling in the New York harbor for over 10 years on my own, and as a guide with professional and non-profit organizations. I have probably made 100 trips to the islands over the years. I was at a meeting at the Hudson River Paddling Guild this last weekend where Commander Mike Mc.Brady from the US Coast Guard described the changes to the security zones in the harbor. I was pleased to see you are reducing and changing some of the zones around the cruise ship terminal, and the port facilities, but I was very unhappy to hear that you were increasing the zones around the Liberty and Ellis Islands. It is already very difficult to paddle around these islands with the current very large zones, and our kayaks have been forced out into the shipping channel. Before the zones we were able to safely paddle behind both Liberty and Ellis Islands along the shore, but now we have to paddle out in the area of heavy motorized traffic. I urge you to allow small human powered boats to be allowed to travel along the shore of Liberty State Park behind both islands, and also travel between the islands. This would be much safer for us, and would not decrease the security of the islands. Our kayaks travel at 3 or 4 miles an hour, (this is slower than a brisk walk) and can carry less than 50 pounds of cargo. I assure you they are not a threat to the islands or the monument. Thank you, Tim Gamble Red Hook Outreach Coordinator 917-721-8851, info@redhookboaters.org