 Two New Clean Marinas!
On August 29th the Annapolis Yacht Club Sailing Center was named the 109th Maryland Clean Marina and Nanticoke Harbor (WI County) became the 23rd Clean Marina Partner. Partners are small facilities without complex ammenities such as public boat ramps or community marinas.
The new facilities bring the total number of certified Clean Marinas in Maryland to 132, or roughly 22 percent of the marinas in Maryland.
Annapolis Yacht Club's Sailing Center houses an active fleet of racing sailboats located prominently on Spa Creek. To earn the Clean Marina award, the club installed rain barrels and container gardens throughout the property to reduce runoff, implemented solid waste recycling, and installed a well-supplied emergency spill response kit. The club's members also partnered with the Spa Creek Conservancy in maintaining a "living shoreline" that filters run-off from a stormwater outfall next to the Spa Creek drawbridge.
"Our members are completely behind the 'greening' of our operations in as many ways as possible," said Julie Winters, who chair's the club's Environmental Committee. "Earning Clean Marina certification is just one part of our 'green' agenda."
Nanticoke Harbor is a quiet marina operated by Wicomico County Parks and Recreation, located on the lower Eastern Shore. It offers 70 slips catering to recreational boaters and watermen, a pump-out station, and a boat ramp. To meet Clean Marina Partner criteria, staff began collecting fishing line for recycling, posted emergency response plans, and implemented strict controls for any repair work that boat owners complete on trailered boats.
Harbormaster Greg Rickards said, "After certifying our larger marina last year, it was very easy to implement the things we did there at our Nanticoke Harbor location. Wicomico County is proud to have both of our facilities certified as clean marinas and partners by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources."
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 several regional boating 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.
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| Greetings!
It's hard to believe another boating season is winding down. In the current economic climate, it is worth noting that being certified as a Clean Marina need not be expensive and can provide a competitive advantage. Additionally, the confidential compliance assistance provided during the certification process can prevent exposure to costly fines and penalties.
The Maryland Clean Marina Program was developed as an alternative to further regulations on the marine industry. The program's goal remains certifying at least 25 percent of marine facilities in the state to reduce non-point source pollution from this industry.
Marina operators are encouraged to attend an introductory workshop this winter. Workshop announcements will be mailed in December. Although attending a workshop is not necessary to participate in the program, doing so can help a facility get certified before the '09 season begins.
As always, your story ideas and feedback on this newsletter are welcome. Simply send an email to dmorrow@dnr.state.md.us. If you know someone who can benefit from this newsletter, we encourage you to forward it to them.
Fair Winds,
Donna Morrow
Editor
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 Seasonal "Best Practices"
With the fall haul-out season right around the corner, here is a brief review of "best management practices" that many marinas and boatyards can use.
- Engine Winterization: Fill fuel tanks 90 percent to allow for expansion in the spring and prevent spills through tank vents. This is especially important in dry stack storage. Use fuel stabilizers to keep fuel from going stale. Recycle used oil. Just as importantly, encourage boaters to recycle their oil at a nearby public collection center.
- Pressure Washing: Visible solids must be removed from wash water before it may be discharged. At a minimum, allow large particles to settle out in a settling tank/sump or use hay bales and filter cloth to filter wash water. More thorough
treatment involves filtration or chemical or physical techniques to treat the
rinse water. Facilities which conduct boat repair, including pressure washing, must have a "General Permit for Discharges from Marinas" from the Maryland Department of the Environment, and a written Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. The Clean Marina staff created a template to assist in writing the Stormwater Plan.
- Ship's Store: Review 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.
Operating a facility with pollution prevention in mind at all times is the best way to minimize the 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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10th Maryland Clean Marina Awards Cermeony
 August 9th the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative proudly held its 10th annual Clean Marina Award Ceremony at the Clark's Landing Shady Oaks Marina, in West River. (Award recipients and DNR representatives pictures at right.)
The event celebrated the accomplishments of the newest Clean Marinas and provided an opportunity for Clean Marina operators to meet their state representatives while networking with peers. The Clean Marinas recognized are:
- Anchor Yacht Basin (AA County)
- Atlantic Marina on the Magothy (AA County)
- Baltimore Marina Center (BC)
- Buzz's Marina (SM County)
- Cedar Hill Marina (WI County)
- Chesapeake Yacht Club (AA County)
- Clark's Landing Shady Side (AA County)
- Clark's Landing Shady Oaks (AA County)
- Riverside Marina (BA County)
- Tidewater Yacht Service Center (BC)
Following lunch and the presentation of awards, guests and the press in attendance were guided through a tour of Clark's Landing's Clean Marina practices. Practices included proper storage of hazardous chemicals, a pumpout station, an emergency spill response kit, and customer education efforts.
Marina and boatyard operators can learn more about earning the Clean Marina designation by calling 410-260-8773 or visiting www.dnr.state.md.us/boating . |
Visit Us at the Annapolis Boat Shows!
The Maryland Clean Marina and Clean Boating programs will be exhibiting in land space #99 (yacht basin lot) of the Annapolis Boat Shows October 9-13 and 16-19. Anyone interested in learning more about the programs or meeting the program staff are welcome to visit.
The Clean Marinas exhibit not only encourages adoption of 'best management practices' at marinas and boatyards, it gives a complete listing of all 132 certified facilities. The first thing nearly every boater who visits does, is check if their marina is on the list--yet another reason to get certified!
The exhibit also promotes adoption of clean boating habits and provides free clean boating tip cards, clean boater kits (litter prevention items, a clean boater pledge, and a vessel decal), and petroleum control kits (an oil-sorbent pad in a zipper bag with a brochure and instructions) to boaters. | |
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Maryland Clean Marinas Underway
