cmi logoDNR logo
Maryland Clean Marinas Underway
Partners in Protection, Clean Marinas & You March 2008
In This Issue
A New Clean Marina
Insurance Discounts!
Solid Waste Determination
Shrink Wrap Recycling
Clean Marina Workshop Recap
Anchor Yacht Basin 126th Clean Marina!
Anchor YB with sign
Anchor Yacht Basin (Edgewater, AA County) was recently certified as a Clean Marina.  A family owned and operated marina and boatyard since 1965, AYB offers 125 slips, a pump-out station, and a fuel dock. 
 
"While the process to become a Clean Marina took some time and effort, it helped us manage our marina operations in a more efficient and environmentally-friendly manner," said AYB Manager Pete Mueller.  "We wanted to do our part to protect the Chesapeake but needed a little guidance and technical assistance, which the program freely offered."
 
The MD Clean Marina Initiative, which is coordinated in partnership with the Marine Trade Association of MD, promotes voluntary adoption of pollution prevention measures and seeks to certify at least 25 percent of Maryland's marinas.  The program offers confidential assistance on technical issues and regulatory compliance to marine facilities of any size. 
 
Certified Clean Marinas receive free promotion on the program's website, at regional boat shows, and in various publications.  Clean Marinas also receive permission to use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising as well as a sign and a flag to denote their status.
 
Interested marine facilities can learn more on the website or by sending an email to [email protected]

Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings! 
 
We hope this newsletter will provide you with useful information to make 2008 a safe and successful season for you and your staff.   As always, your ideas and feedback on this newsletter are welcome.  Simply send an email to [email protected]
 
Best wishes for a great season,
 
Donna Morrow
Editor
 
Insurance Discount for Clean Marinas!

As Clean Marina programs have developed in many coastal states over the last ten years, the insurance industry has taken note. Several insurance underwriters have announced up to a 10 percent discount on rates for certified Clean Marinas in good standing. For existing Clean Marinas, this is great news, and for anyone considering starting the process, it is an added incentive.

 

While this list may not be inclusive, to date, the Maryland Clean Marina Program is aware that the following underwriters offer a Clean Marina discount:

       Brown and Brown

       Marine MGA /North American Specialty

       Hanover Insurance Co.

 

Clean Marina managers know that the steps taken to earn the award such as training staff and keeping records, maintaining written emergency plans, and installing fuel spill response kits, reduce risks of pollution and safety related claims.  Managers of certified Clean Marinas should ask their insurance broker for a rate review.    As more marinas inquire with their brokers, more underwriters may offer this discount.

 

Maryland Clean Marina operators can contact the program coordinator for a letter documenting their status if needed.  Clean Marinas must maintain their status through annual written affirmations and re-inspections every three years.
dumpster--Google imagesCheck What Goes in Your Dumpster (Before Someone Else Does)
 

Recent research by the Clean Marina Program has brought to light a little known fact that marina and boatyard operators must be able to prove that routine waste is not hazardous, before disposing of it in the dumpster.   This process is called 'waste determination' and is discussed in COMAR 26.13.03.02.  The burden of proof is on the facility to show that waste discarded in the regular dumpster does not have characteristics of hazardous waste.

 
The US Environmental Protection Agency's website has useful guidance on what is regulated as hazardous waste (e.g., http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/id.htm).
 

Examples of routinely discarded solid waste at marinas and boatyards include hardened epoxy, paint rollers, and sludge from a wash down collection pit.  Unless the facility has strong evidence that the waste is not hazardous based on product ingredients, composition of materials that went into the waste, or previous analysis of comparable waste, it should be tested by an independent laboratory. Records must be kept on site for at least three years, indicating the basis for the determination that the waste is not hazardous. The cost of independent laboratory testing will be far less than fines and penalties that can be imposed if a marina can not document how it determined that its waste is not hazardous.  

 

Marinas must employ a licensed waste hauler to remove hazardous waste, which is taken to a facility especially equipped to receive them. 

 

In April 2007, Soundings Trade Only reported cases of steep fines being levied against a number of boatyards in New England, for not complying with these rules.  In Maryland, both the EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) can enforce hazardous waste regulations.  Note that Maryland regulations are more stringent than federal requirements in some areas.  More information is available on MDE's website or by calling 410-537-3345.  

 

Marina operators should familiarize themselves with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, the federal statute governing the collection, transportation, handling, and disposal of hazardous waste.  The MD Clean Marina Guidebook offers an explanation of relevant regulations pertaining to marinas, in its chapter on 'waste containment and disposal.'   

 

Of particular importance is the threshold of storing no more than 100 kg (approximately 220 pounds or 30 gallons) of hazardous waste at any one time, and never generating more than this amount in a calendar month.  Facilities which store or generate more than this amount must register with MDE as a hazardous waste generator, comply with requirements to manifest each shipment of hazardous waste, and comply with other rules. Most marinas fall below this threshold and are therefore considered 'small quantity generators' under Maryland regulations.  Waste at all facilities must be properly labeled.

 

To learn more about these important regulations, visit MDE's website or call 410-537-3345. 

shrinkwrap
Shrink Wrap Recycling
The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland are working with Mondo Polymers to collect and recycle used shrink wrap across Maryland.  Mondo Polymers (MP)  manufactures portions of highway barriers and the shrink wrap is a perfect raw material for their process.  To learn more about the company or their products, visit www.mondopolymer.com

 

Marinas wishing to participate should contact MP directly, as they are developing a pick-up route.  After contacting MP, marinas should collect and store used shrink wrap on site.  The wrap does not need to be kept dry, so expensive containers are not necessary.  Marinas should designate an out-of-the-way location for collection, compact the bundles as small as possible, and MP will retrieve the material.  There is no cost to marinas to participate aside from the time to bundle and store the material.

 

MP is establishing a route and dates to collect the wrap as more people join the effort.  MP plans to contact all interested marinas in the coming weeks. Contact Ron Wesel or Tony Carver at Mondo Polymers at 888-607-4790  (or [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to participate.  They will provide more information as it becomes available.

Anchor YB with signClean Marina Workshop Recap 
January 31st, the Clean Marina staff hosted an introductory workshop in Annapolis.  Approximately twenty people from over ten different marine facilities attended to learn about the Award criteria and receive free program materials (e.g., boater education materials, templates for commonly needed plans).  After the classroom portion of the day and lunch at Eastport Yacht Club, about a dozen people joined General Manager Scott Tinkler for a tour of Port Annapolis Marina.  
 
The tour highlighted "best management practices" in the boatyard (e.g., vacuum sanders and filter cloth on the ground) as well as in the shop (e.g., staff training and hazardous materials handling).  Attendees said they learned a lot and greatly benefited from talking with other marina managers about ideas for dealing with common problems. 
 
The Clean Marina Initiative offers several workshops each winter to introduce new people to the certification process.  However, marine facilities of any size are welcome to contact the program office any time to learn more (410-260-8770 or [email protected] ).