What is the National Boating
Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG)?

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Charleston City Marina's MegaDock facility – 2002 – Tier II

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    Charleston City Marina's MegaDock facility – 2002 – Tier II

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    Charleston City Marina's MegaDock facility – 2002 – Tier II

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    Cooper River Marina – 2002 – Tier II

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    Cooper River Marina – 2002 – Tier II

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    Charleston City Marina's MegaDock facility – 2002 – Tier II

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    Charleston City Marina's MegaDock facility – 2002 – Tier II

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    Georgetown Harborwalk Marina – 2003 – Tier II

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    Georgetown Harborwalk Marina – 2003 – Tier II

News

Congress has recognized that insufficient tie-up facilities exist for transient (staying 15 days or less), nontrailerable (26 feet or more in length) recreational boats to provide for reasonable and convenient access to and from our navigable waters. As a result, these boaters are unable to enjoy many recreational, cultural, historic, scenic, and natural resources of the United States. It has also been determined that there is an insufficient quantity of marinas or commercial tie-up facilities along extended stretches of the United States coastlines and rivers that benefit transient, nontrailerable boats. In many parts of the country, the number of places to tie up, moor, or anchor a cruising boat, especially during a storm, is limited. Basic features, such as tie-ups, fuel, utilities, and restrooms, are often nonexistent.

As a result, Congress passed the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 777g). Under the Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program. The BIG Program provides funding to States and Territories to construct, renovate, or maintain tie-up facilities and safe harbors for recreational boats 26 feet or more in length. Objectives include enhancing access to recreational, historic, cultural, natural, and scenic resources; strengthen local ties to the boating community and its economic benefits; promote public/private partnerships and entrepreneurial opportunities; provide continuity of public access to the shore; and promote awareness of transient boating opportunities.

The purpose of South Carolina's BIG Program

The BIG Program provides funding through competitive grants for the development and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities in South Carolina for transient (15 day visit or less), nontrailerable (26 feet or more in length) recreational (operated primarily for pleasure; or leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's pleasure ) vessels. This grant program is only available to assist with the transient portion of a facility, but the facility must allow reasonable access to all recreational vessels.

Eligible infrastructure

Examples of eligible infrastructure that may be funded include (see 50 CFR 86.20 for detailed list):

You may apply funds to grant administration, as well as to fund preliminary costs when such preliminary costs include any of the following activities that have been completed prior to signing a grant agreement (these costs will be funded only if the project is approved):

  1. Conducting appraisals
  2. Administering environmental reviews and permitting
  3. Conducting technical feasibility studies
  4. Carrying out site surveys and engaging in site planning
  5. Preparing cost estimates
  6. Preparing working drawings, construction plans, and specifications

Ineligible Infrastructure

Examples of activities ineligible for funding (see 50 CFR 86.21 for detailed list) include projects that: