(Portland, OR)  --  Authorities are reminding boaters to properly dispose of their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons.  The Coast Guard sent out a press release yesterday saying improper disposal of the beacons costs taxpayers thousands of dollars.  The Coast Guard says it also costs them valuable time, because they treat every distress signal they receive as a genuine cry for help.  The Coast Guard recommends removing the beacon's battery or rendering the unit inoperable by demolishing it before throwing it away.