Anchor YB with signMaryland Clean Marina Initiative
Maryland Clean Marinas Underway 
Partners in Protection--Clean Marinas and You December  2009
In This Issue
Clean Marina Roundtables
Baltimore Boat Show
MD Green Registry
Recordkeeping Reminder
IMBC
Happy
Holidays!
 

We wish you and your business a restful winter and a healthy and prosperous new year!
 
Congratulations to all those who earned the Clean Marina Award in 2009: 
  1. Mill Creek Marina, Naval Station Annapolis
  2. Gunpowder Neck Boat Club, Aberdeen Proving Ground 
  3. Yacht Basin Co., Annapolis
  4. Annapolis City Dock
  5. National Harbor, Oxon Hill
  6. Annapolis MD Capital Yacht Club
  7. Clarks Landing Marine Center, Chester
  8. Tradewinds Marina, Middle River
  9. Campbell's Boatyard at Jack's Point, Oxford
  10. Port of Snow Hill
 
QUICK LINKS
 
DNR 
 

MD Boaters .Com 

Take Me Fishing 

Shrink Wrap Recycling
 
Mondo Polymers is planning to collect and recycle shrink wrap from Maryland boatyards again in 2010 but NO STRAPS can be in the bundles.  If there are straps in the wrap, they will not take the load. 
 
Boatyards and marinas should put large, clear signs where they collect the wrap explaining "no straps allowed."  The Clean Marina office can provide free electronic artwork for such signs upon request ([email protected] )
 
Yards can also encourage boaters to recycle their wrap at home.  Some counties will accept it in curbside recycling (AA county for example).   The alternative is renting a dumpster and paying for the service independently.
 
To request free pick-up and recycling from Mondo Polymers in spring 2010 call Ron Wesel at 740-376-9396 or email him at [email protected] 
Anchor YB with sign Clean Marina Roundtables Set for February
 
 The Clean Marina Program will host three informational roundtable meetings to introduce the program to marina, boatyard, and yacht club operators. The free roundtables will offer participants a chance to learn about the certification process, challenges, and successes from both program staff and certified Clean Marina operators.
 
Dates and Locations:
  • February 9  Tidewater Marina, Havre de Grace           
  • February 11  Oxford Community Center, Oxford
  • February 17 Port Annapolis Marina, Annapolis
 
The roundtables are for operators and staff of marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs (not for product demonstrations, generating customer lists, or similar purposes).  Invitations will be mailed to marinas in January and advanced registration is requested.  All marinas not already certified are encouraged to attend a workshop and pursue the Clean Marina award in 2010. 
 
The Clean Marina program was developed by DNR as an alternative to additional regulation by federal agencies. Working with marina and boatyard operators and government representatives, DNR developed practical yet effective practices for marinas and boatyards to control pollution.  In this time of increased demand to clean up our waterways, participation in this voluntary program is more important than ever.  Marina operators should do their part and attend a roundtable. To learn more, visit the Clean Marina web site
 Clean Marinas at the Baltimore Boat ShowCMI display

The Maryland Clean Marina Initiative will present an exhibit "Clean Marinas-Clean Boaters" at the Baltimore Boat Show, January 21-24.  The exhibit will list all 140 certified Maryland Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners.  This list will help boaters locate Clean Marinas, or perhaps encourage a marina that is not certified, to participate.
 
The exhibit will showcase practices that both marinas and boaters can use to reduce pollution and will offer many free educational items to boaters including petroleum control kits and Clean Boater Pledges.  Clean Marinas exhibiting at the show are encouraged to use the logo in their display or on printed materials to distinguish themselves as a certified facility.  Only facilities certified by DNR and in good standing may use the Clean Marina logo and must follow guidelines which can be found on our website
 
Marinas can also encourage their customers to sign the Maryland Clean Boater Pledge, which can be found on line.  Boaters who sign the pledge will receive a small thank you gift while supplies last.
SGG logo Maryland Green Registry
 
Marinas and boatyards can encourage marine contractors with an  interest in pollution prevention to learn about the Maryland Green Registry. The Maryland Green Registry is a voluntary, self-certification program offering tips and resources to help organizations in addition to marinas set and meet their own environmental goals. 
 
Marinas and boatyards should seek the Clean Marina Award, but other businesses not eligible for this Award would benefit from joining the Green Registry.  Their participation will strengthen the efforts of the marine industry as a whole to protect the environment. Certified Clean Marinas and Partners can join the Green Registry in addition to their certification. 
   
The registry is flexible in that participants choose the activities that make the most sense for their organization.  The Maryland Green Registry is open to organizations and facilities of all types and sizes in both owned and leased space.   There is no charge to participate. Program information, as well as an application, are available on line
Best Practices Reminder
Boatyards or marinas that engage in boat repair, including pressure washing, are required to have a discharge permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment.  A key requirement of the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas is that facilities develop a written Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.  As the name implies, this plan explains measures the facility has in place to minimize run off from the property and to treat that which is discharged. 
 
Arequirement that may easily be overlooked is that management must train staff on these Stormwater Plans twice per year.  All staff members need to be taught the importance of storing materials indoors or covering anything stored outdoors, which could pollute rain water or snow melt.  This includes used batteries, engines or anything oily.
 
Additionally, facility managers are required to inspect stormwater controls (such as settling tanks or landscaping swales or stones) annually, and make any repairs necessary.  All such inspections and repairs should be documented in the plan itself.  Finer points of regulatory compliance, such as documenting training and inspections, should not be overlooked.
 
International Marina and Boatyard Conference  Anchor YB with sign
January 27-29, 2010 Tampa, FL
 
The Association of Marina Industries' annual conference is right around the corner. The 2010 conference offers over a dozen educational seminars on topics such as green construction, grant funding, customer and employee retention, hurricane preparation, and Web 2.0-the next generation of Web interaction that facilitates communication, information sharing, and such online collaboration as Web-based communities and social-networking sites.
 
The conference also features product demonstrations, numerous networking events, and an exhibit hall with over 120 vendors.  IMBC is where dedicated marine professionals gather to exchange information, talk about the future of the industry, explore new methods and techniques, receive updates on revised standards and established rules, and see what's happening in other parts of the world. Visit www.marinaassociation.org/imbc to download the conference preliminary brochure and register today!
Contribute to an Upcoming Issue
 
Your story ideas are welcome.  To suggest an idea for an upcoming issue of this newsletter, simply send an email to [email protected]  Thank you.