HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will consider a proposal to

establish 16 as the minimum age for operators of personal watercraft, known by their trade names such as Jet Ski and Sea Doo.

It also is considering allowing boat engines on certain commission-managed lakes 100 acres in size or greater. This includes Glade Run Lake in Butler County.

The commission will have its quarterly meeting April 25 and 26 at its headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg.

Committee meetings will begin at 9 a.m. April 25. Starting at 8 a.m. April 26, the full commission will meet for formal consideration of the agenda.

All committee meetings and the review of the agenda are open to the public.

Regarding the personal watercraft, the commission is contemplating regulations that would raise the age limit for operator each year until 2008.

It would immediately restrict youths 12 and younger from operating them.

The new regulations would restrict 13-year-olds by Jan. 1, 2006; 14-year-olds by Jan. 1, 2007, and 15-year-olds by Jan. 1, 2008.

Also, the commission is proposing a regulation thaw would forbid operators 15 years of age or younger from operating personal watercraft if there are any passengers onboard 17 years of age or younger.

Personal watercraft refers to a boat less than 16 feet in length that uses an engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion.

Also up for consideration is a proposal to allow the use of engines on certain lakes. Those include Glade Run Lake and Kahle Lake in Venango County.

If the commissioners opt to proceed with these regulations, a public comment period will be held prior to a final vote on adoption.

The complete agenda for the meeting can be found on the commission's web site at www.fish.state.pa.us.