Maryland Clean Marina InitiativeAnchor YB with sign
Maryland Clean Marinas Underway FALL 2009
cleanmarinahhn
Four New Clean Marinas!
 
See photos at right
 
 
Congratulations to the three newest Clean Marinas:  Clarks Landing Marine Center (Chester), Tradewinds Marina (Middle River), Campbell's Boatyard at Jack's Point (Oxford) and to the newest Clean Marina Partner,  Port of Snow Hill (Snow Hill).  
 
Clean Marina Partners are small facilties, that often serve trailered boats or transients, as opposed to having long term slip holders.  Partners also have very few ammenities and focus instead on educating their visitors, and managing their own waste.
 
The new Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partner used the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook and Checklist, and worked with DNR staff to fine-tune their operations.  They also passed a site inspection by DNR staff and the manager of another Clean Marina.  Certifications are good for three years when marinas must be re-certified.
 
Program materials and a list of all 140 certified facilities in Maryland can be found on the Clean Marina website.
National Clean Marina Survey Results 
In January 2009,  Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff organized a survey of Clean Marina Program participants in Maryland, and  two dozen other states. Some highlights are worth sharing:
  • Over 99 percent of participants would recommend that other marinas join the Clean Marina program.
  • 99 percent of participants felt that getting certified was worth the time and expense.
  • 35 percent of respondents had attracted new customers as a result of their certification.
  • 71 percent of participants felt that implementing
    "Clean Marina Rules" for customers and contractors had directly led to a cleaner marina or boatyard
    .
  • 24 percent of respondents said they had realized cost-savings by becoming a Clean Marina.
  • Over 93 percent of respondents felt the Clean Marina certification had helped them comply with state or federal regulations or permits.

These results indicate that the great majority of participants find the certification is a worthwhile endeavor and recommend it to others.   

Marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs in Maryland that are not yet certified are urged to contact the Clean Marina Initiative office ([email protected]) or website to request free program materials. Marina operators can also request an informal site visit  from program staff to assess where their marina stands. 

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative aims to reduce non-point source pollution from marinas and recreational boaters, and to increase compliance with current regulations.  Program staff offer site visits, technical assistance, and confidential compliance assistance.  Managers of certified Clean Marinas are also available to mentor new participants.
 
The Clean Marina Initiative was developed in cooperation with the Marine Trades Association of Maryland, and with the input of marine professionals. All marine facilities are encouraged to participate in this unique public-private partnership.
WEB SITES OF INTEREST
Greetings!

Although there is still plenty of great boating left in Maryland for the year, this issue provides reminders for winterizing engines, proper waste handling, and pressure wash water treatment. When the haul-outs begin, it's important that boatyards and marinas take extra care to prevent pollution from their activities.
 
As always, your story ideas and input on the newsletter are welcome. Send them by email to [email protected]  Thanks for reading and best wishes for the remainder of the season.
 
Donna Morrow
Department of Natural Resources
Boating Services Unit
Newest Clean Marinas   Anchor YB with sign
See Article at Left  
At the 2009 Clean Marina Awards Luncheon, several of the newest Clean Marina operators received their Awards, as well as Governor's Citations.
 
At right, Darryl Frey and Tom Campbell from Campbell's Boatyard at Jack's Point (Oxford), with their Clean Marina sign. 
 
 
Below left, Brian Schneider accepts the award for Tradewinds Marina (Middle River).  Below right, Judy Seelandt accepts the award for Clark's Landing Marine Center (Chester).
 
 
Anchor YB with sign  Anchor YB with sign
Hauling, Washing and Winterizing
Best Management Practices   haul out
 
Over the next few months thousands of recreational boats in Maryland will be hauled, washed, and winterized.   If you operate a yard or marina that conducts any of these activities, or if you allow "do-it-yourselfers" or contractors to work independently, take note of the recommendations below. 
 
  • Use the best means available to you to capture and filter pressure wash water for visible solids.  Do not discharge wash water to surface waters if remnants of paint are visible or if chemicals or detergents were used in the cleaning.  Wash water is a regulated industrial discharge.  To learn more visit Maryland Department of the Environment's website (MDE).
  • Collect used oil and antifreeze in approved containers for recycling.  Hire a licensed hauler to remove it. Keep tanks clean and properly labeled.
  • If you do not offer recycling, promote free public locations to your customers through signs, newsletters, or your website.
  • Use fuel stabilizers in fuel tanks for winter storage.
  • Remind customers to only fill fuel tanks to 90% of capacity to allow for expansion in the spring.  As the fuel warms in the spring, it expands and, if the tank is completely full, it will "burp" out of the fuel vent. 
  • Collect used batteries and recycle through a battery vendor.  If you store them outside, keep them covered to prevent exposure to rain and snow.
  • Post rules for "do-it-yourselfers" and contractors detailing what is, or is not, permitted in your marina.  Suggestions and sample rules are available in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook.
  • Label your dumpsters prohibiting dumping of hazardous materials.  Such dumping is illegal and the marina is responsible.  Make sure everyone knows where hazardous materials should go and where they are prohibited.
  • Customers can dispose of hazardous waste at household hazardous waste collection days held in their county.  To find details, visit MDE online

By taking the steps above this fall,  marinas, boatyards, and boaters can keep many pollutants out of Maryland's waterways.  By properly handling waste products and monitoring their discharges, marinas and boatyards also protect themselves against fines or penalties stemming from the Clean Water Act or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Chesapeake Bay Executive Order
 What You Should Know
 
On May 12, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order that recognizes the Chesapeake Bay as a national treasure and calls on the federal government to lead a renewed effort to restore and protect the nation's largest estuary and its watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration Executive Order established a Federal Leadership Committee to oversee the development and coordination of reporting, data management and other activities by agencies involved in Bay restoration. The committee is chaired by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and includes senior representatives from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Transportation and others.
 
The Executive Order required that these agencies prepare and submit by September 9, 2009 draft reports that make recommendations to:
 make recommendations to:
  • Define the next generation of tools and actions to restore water quality in the Bay and describe the changes to be made to regulations, programs and policies to implement these actions. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Target resources to better protect the Bay and its rivers, particularly in agricultural conservation practices. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
  • Strengthen storm water management practices for federal facilities and federal land within the Bay watershed and develop a best practices guide for reducing polluted runoff. (EPA, Dept of Defense)
  • Assess the impacts of climate change on the Bay and develop a strategy for adapting programs and infrastructure to these impacts. (Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Commerce)
  • Expand public access to the Bay and its rivers from federal lands and conserve landscapes of the watershed. (Dept. of Interior)
  • Expand environmental research, monitoring and observation to strengthen scientific support for decision-making on Bay restoration issues. (Dept. of Interior, Dept of Commerce)
  • Develop focused and coordinated habitat and research activities that protect and restore living resources and water quality. (Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Commerce)

Draft reports have been prepared and are now available at http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/default.aspx

By November 12, the Federal Leadership Committee will integrate these reports into a coordinated strategy for restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. This draft strategy will be available for public comment and a final strategy will be completed by May 12, 2010.
 
Beginning in 2010, the Federal Leadership Committee will publish an annual Chesapeake Bay Action Plan that describes how federal funding will be allocated toward Bay restoration in the upcoming year. It will be accompanied by an Annual Progress Report that reviews indicators of environmental conditions and assesses implementation of the strategy. An independent evaluator will also periodically report on progress toward meeting the goals of the Executive Order.
About the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative
To learn more about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, please visit our website: www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating/cleanmarina
 
To learn about other Clean Marina Programs across the country, visit
 
MD Dept. of Natural Resources
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Maryland Clean Marina Initiative
410-260-8773