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Maryland Clean Marinas Underway
Partners in Protection, Clean Marinas & You Summer 2008
In This Issue
Governor's Message
Solid Waste Determination
Four New Clean Marinas!
Seasonal Best Practices
National Marina Day and Annual Clean Marina Awards
Governor's Message

Recreational boating is a vital part of our heritage and an invaluable part of our State's economy.  In order to ensure that our children and grandchildren will be able to continue to enjoy this Maryland tradition, we need to ensure that our waterways will be healthy. 
 
The Clean Marina Initiative is an important part of Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.   In recent months, we have worked together with lawmakers, environmental organizations, businesses and citizens to create vital new tools to enhance this effort, including stronger critical area laws, increased funding for Bay restoration, and a new program  for targeting restoration activities and tracking progress.
 
Our certified Maryland Clean Marinas and partners have shown exceptional foresight and commitment in working to protect our rivers and bays by adopting environmentally friendly practices.  We are proud to work together with boaters and business owners as One Maryland to improve the quality of our waterways and our State's great boating experiences, for today and for the boaters of tomorrow.
 
mom sig
dumpster--Google imagesCheck What Goes in Your Dumpster
 
(Before Someone Else Does)
 

As reported in the Spring 2008 issue of Maryland Clean Marinas Underway, 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. 

 

Clean Marina staff, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of the Environment has complied a list of laboratories which, while neither comprehensive nor an endorsement, is available by simply calling 410-260-8773. 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 it. 

 

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. 


Quick Links
Greetings! 
 
We hope this newsletter will provide you with useful information to make this a safe and successful summer for you and your staff.   As always, your ideas and feedback on this newsletter are welcome.  Simply send an email to [email protected].  If you know someone who can benefit from this newsletter, we encourage you to forward it to them.
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Best wishes for a great summer,
 
Donna Morrow
Editor
 
Four New Clean Marinas!

Over a busy spring the Department of Natural Resources certified the following four new Clean Marinas: 
 
Clark's Landing Shady Oaks Marina (Sales Coordinator Susan Hutchins pictured below)
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Baltimore Marine Center (Manager Scott Anderson, center, and his marina team pictured at right)
 
Tidewater Yacht Service at Port Covington (Retail Manager Kathy Barth and Owner Bob Brandon pictured below) 
Anchor YB with sign
 
 
 
Anchor YB with signBuzz's Marina in Ridge (Owners Christy and Mike Henderson pictured at right) 
 
The four newest Clean Marinas bring the statewide total to 130 certified facilities, which is just over 20 percent of the marine facilities in Maryland. 
 
Managers of all the new Clean Marinas undertook similar steps for certification including: reviewing or creating written emergency response plans, clarifying environmnetal rules for slip holders and contractors, and improving outreach to, and education of, their customers.  In addition, those with boat repair services take steps to prevent pollution from activities such as pressure washing, sanding, and painting. 
 
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 Clean Marina website or by sending an email to [email protected]
rain barrelSeasonal "Best Practices"
 
With the boating season in full swing, here is a brief review of "best management practices" that many marinas and boatyards can use.
  • Stormwater Management:  Make a point to inspect stormwater controls monthly and clean or maintain them as needed.  Also, look into planting a rain garden to treat stormwater on site, or installing rain barrels to collect rain water from downspouts.  The collected water can be used to water landscaping, which saves water consumption, while simultaneously preventing run-off to waterways. 
  • Fueling:  Train staff to regard safety and environmental precautions at the pumps.  Use clear signs at the fuel dock to reinforce instructions from dockhands.  Routinely use small pieces of oil-sorbent pads with each boat to catch minor drips and maintain a proper, well labeled, spill response kit(s) in central location(s). 
  • Ship's Store:  Analyze the products you carry.  Don't sell household cleaners for use on boats.  Find "Green Seal" or EPA certified safe cleaners and stock only those.  Create a "clean boating display" section for these and other products such as water based antifouling paints and fuel spill prevention devices. 
  • Marina Management:  Have regular training talks with staff during the season.  Have a written emergency response plan for likely threats and have all staff familiar with it. 
Operating a facility with pollution prevention in mind at all times is the best way to minimize risk of accidents.  This risk minimization is why many marine insurance underwriters now offer up to a 10 percent discount for certified Clean Marinas. 
 
The Clean Marina staff is available to assist marina operators in learning more about any of the topics above.  Additional resources are available in the Clean Marina Guidebook and on the program website.
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Clean Marina Awards and National Marina Day in August
 
August 9th the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) is once again sponsoring "National Marina Day." The goal of National Marina Day is the education of politicians, civic leaders and the public about the important role the marina industry plays in cities and towns across the nation as family-friendly gateways to boating and stewards of the environment. This goal is achieved through the promotion of nationwide marina focused events with local flavor that educate politicians, civic leaders, and the public about the value of the marina industry to cities and towns across America. The AMI has a superb offering of free resources to assist any facility in hosting their own Marina Day event.  For more information on National Marina Day please visit www.marinaassocation.org/nmd or contact Wendy Larimer at [email protected], 202/350-9623. 
 
To support the goal of National Marina Day, the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative is proud to hold its 10th annual Clean Marina Award Ceremony on August 6th.  The event is held to celebrate the accomplishments of the newest Clean Marinas, and to publicly thank the marina operators.  The 2008 Award Ceremony will be held at the Clark's Landing Shady Oaks Marina, in West River.  During the event, managers of Clean Marinas certified since last August will have the opportunity to meet their State Representatives, will receive Governor's Citations, and will enjoy lunch and a marina tour.  Press will be invited.
 
The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative encourages marinas and boatyards in Maryland to learn more about National Marina Day and how hosting an event can benefit an specific facility, as well as the industry as a whole.  For more information on National Marina Day please visit www.marinaassocation.org/nmd or contact Wendy Larimer at [email protected], 202/350-9623.