Anchor YB with signMaryland Clean Marina Initiative
Anchor YB with sign
Maryland Clean Marinas Underway 
Partners in Protection--Clean Marinas and YouDecember  2010
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Did You Hear?
 

Word has it that Waste Management Company has a new program that lets customers safely recycle fluorescent lamps and the potentially hazardous mercury inside them. 

 

While DNR neither recommends nor endorses any product or service, the Clean Marina Program encourages marine facilities to look into this type of program with your waste hauler. 

Perform or Allow Boat Repair at Your Marina?  Pay Attention.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has published a draft  General Permit for Discharges from Boat and Vessel Maintenance (formerly the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas).  A public hearing was held in September, and written comments were accepted by MDE until early October.  MDE will address all comments received and produce the final Permit as soon as possible.
 
Some key changes from the old Permit found in the Draft Permit included:
  • Requiring facilities that perform or allow boat repair and maintenance activities to get the Permit.
  • Requiring permitted facilities to sample stormwater discharges.
  • Requiring permitted facilities to sample and test the discharge of water used to pressure wash boats painted with antifouling paints for zinc, copper, and lead.
  • Prohibition of cleaning ablative paints in the water.  
  • Requiring permitted facilities to submit their Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan electronically to MDE.


Please visit MDE's website to review the DRAFT Permit to learn how this will affect your business.

Two New Clean Marinas! 
West River Yacht Harbour and Galesville Harbor Yacht Yard
Earn Awards

 

WRYH&GHYY staffTwo facilities on the West River have recently joined the ranks of Maryland's certified Clean Marinas.  The Galesville Harbor Yacht Yard and the West River Yacht Harbour Condominium Association-including the West River Fuel Dock-worked simultaneously to meet the Award criteria.  Pictured at left are (L-R) Peter Mueller and Charlie Duvall from the Galesville Harbor Yacht Yard, and Michelle Walker from the West River Yacht Harbour Condominium Association. 

 

Using the Clean Marina Guidebook and Checklist, as well as educational materials for boaters, both facilities identified areas where they could improve operations.  For example, Galesville Harbor Yacht Yard installed two rain barrels to collect water that would otherwise run off the roof, across hot pavement, and directly into the West River.  Instead, the water will cool off, and then be used to water landscaping.  The Yacht Yard also recycles shrink wrap, scrap metal, and used oil and batteries.  They also place filter cloth beneath boats when working on them ashore, and filter pressure wash water before it is discharged.

 

West River Yacht Harbour staff put special containment material around the oil recycling tank to prevent oil from getting into rain water and worked with slip owners on rules to ensure compliance with state and federal rules regarding vessel discharges.  The fuel dock is run with care to prevent spills and monitor customers, and it maintains a spill response kit.  The marina also has both a fixed and a portable pump-out system to empty boat holding tanks.
  
The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary program for marine facilities that want to reduce their impact on Maryland's waterways by implementing "best management practices" outlined in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. Certification includes passing a site inspection by DNR staff for the initial certification, and again every three years to maintain certification.  There are currently 143 certified Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners (smaller facilities with no ammenities) in Maryland. 

  
All marine facilities are encouraged to join the program.  To learn more visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina/  or contact [email protected] or call 410-260-8773.
Clean Marina Roundtables Set for January   workshop

This January DNR will host a series of Roundtables open to all Maryland Marina operators.  The roundtables are an opportunity for managers of un-certified facilities to learn how they can meet Clean Marina Award Criteria while networking with peers and program staff. 

 

Dates and Locations:

  • January 11, Solomons (Spring Cove)
  • January 13, Annapolis (Port Annapolis)
  • January 20, Georgetown (Skipjack Cove)

Invitations will be mailed to marinas in December.  Free copies of the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook and educational materials for boaters will be provided.  There is no charge to attend but advanced registration is requested as space is limited. To register please send names of attendees and contact information to [email protected] 

 Handling Live-Aboards

Living aboard a boat is an ideal lifestyle for some. But it comes with challenges for sewage disposal that should not be ignored by either the boat owner or the marina.  Marinas who allow live-aboards should address this concern "head on" with boat owners before signing a slip lease.  Some ideas include:

 

  • Allowing marina staff to inspect the toilet and "marine sanitation device" (MSD) to ensure there is no overboard discharge of raw sewage.  Staff should be allowed to inspect MSDs any time, especially if overboard discharge is suspected or reported.
  • Requiring live-aboards to have a regular pump-out schedule as a condition of slip rental.  This could be at the marina or with an area pump-out boat if one exists.  Grants are available for pump-outs (fixed and portable) at marinas.
  • Addressing how live-aboards will dispose of sewage when the marina's pump-out is winterized. A portable unit kept indoors and brought out on demand is one solution.  Another idea would be hiring a mobile, vehicle-based service where possible.
  • Grouping live-aboards together on one pier nearest to the shoreside bath house.  This has the added benefit in winter of less snow to shovel.
  • 
    These are just a few ideas to help prevent illegal sewage discharge from live-aboards.  The ideas might also translate to all slip holders if desired. 
Shrink Wrap Recycling Inforecycle sticker   

 
In spring 2011 Mondo Polymer will again come to Maryland and pick up used shrink wrap for recycling into its products in Ohio.  All straps, doors, and zippers must be removed from the wrap to be eligible for recycling.  To get on the schedule for pick up, contact Ron Wesel from Mondo Polymer by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-607-4790.

Free decals are available to marinas to put on the outside of shrink wrapped boats (see above).  The decals have a diagram and instructions to ensure the wrap is removed properly in the spring, so it can be recycled.  All straps, doors, and zippers must be removed prior to recycling and it saves time to cut them out as the wrap is removed.  To request a supply of the decals, contact Donna Morrow at [email protected] or 410-260-8773.  Supplies are limited. 
MD Green Travel logoMore Free Promotion for Clean Marinas
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Certified Clean Marinas were recently offered the opportunity for a free listing on the Maryland Tourism Department's "Green Travel Partners" website.  Over three dozen marinas immediately took advantage of this special promotion opportunity.  If you missed the notice sent this fall, simply email [email protected] and indicate that you would like a free listing.