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General Discharge Permit Workshop
17 March, 2011
The Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) is hosting a forum regarding the 2010 General Permit for Discharges From Marinas, Thursday March 17 at Podickery Point Marina 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
The workshop will offer you the opportunity to ask questions to the Department of the Environment regarding your property and what portions of the permit, if any, apply to you. The workshop will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Podickory Point Yacht Club (see directions). The workshop is free and open to the public.
Facilities that perform or allow boat maintenance activites (including pressure washing) are required under the Clean Water Act to obtain this Permit. Permitted facilities will also be required to prepare a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. MDE will have guidance on their website and the Clean Marina Program has created a template which is availble on our website.
MTAM members, staff from Maryland Department of the Environment, and Clean Marina Program staff will be on hand to discuss the new Permit and answer questions from marina and boatyard operators. If you plan to attend, please print a copy of the Permit from MDE's website and bring it with you.
TO REGISTER: Contact MTAM at either [email protected] or 410-269-0741.
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EPA Seeks Input on New Boating Regulations
Court rulings in 2005 and 2008 led to the passage of the Clean Boating Act by Congress. The Clean Boating Act (CBA) created a new section in the federal Clean Water Act. The CBA directs the US Coast Guard to promulgate regulations for the use of the management practices developed by EPA and requires recreational boater compliance with such practices.
Before they propose the actual management practices for normal vessel operations, EPA wants to hear from the boating community. Two listening sessions are scheduled in Annapolis on March 18 and April 29, 2011. Several webinars are also planned for those who can not attend a listening session.
Complete background on the CBA and information about public participation are available at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/participate.cfm Please pass the word to boaters and others who will be affected and who should provide comments. |
How About Some Good News?
Maryland Clean Marina of the Year Contest!
We have devised a simple contest to recognize the very best Maryland Clean Marinas. Anyone can nominate a certified Maryland Clean Marina based on their outstanding efforts throughout 2011 in the following areas:
- Overall cleanliness of the facility (indoors and outdoors);
- Environmental services offered ( e.g, recycling liquid and/or solid waste, pump-outs, vacuum sanders, pet waste pick up bags, absorbent pads at the fuel dock, etc.);
- Communicating and enforcing their "clean marina" practices and goals to customers and contractors through rules, signs, and services.
Nominations should be no more than 500 words, include photos if necessary to illustrate the efforts of the marina, and must be received by the Clean Marina office by December 31st, 2011. The winner will be announced in January 2012 and prizes will be awarded for the top three finalists! Sponsors will be announced soon. If your company is interested in sponsoring the contest by donating a product or service, please contact Donna Morrow at 410-260-8773 or [email protected]
Let the competition begin! |
Shrink Wrap Recycling Info
Mondo Polymer will not be coming to Maryland this year to pick up used shrink wrap at marinas. This leaves few options at this busy time of year but marinas and boaters are encouraged to recycle the wrap if at all possible in their area.
Options for 2011: 1. Determine if shrink wrap can be recycled at your county landfill or convenience center. (Not all counties recycle the wrap, but several do.) Consider driving the wrap to the recycling center. The Clean Marina Program has compiled a list of county recycling options. 3. Hire a commercial waste company to provide a dumpster and recycle the wrap. You might be able to charge a few dollars per boat to cover the costs of doing this. Planning for the Future: Unless a commercial solution is found (e.g., a company that can transport, bale, and recycle the wrap for its value as a raw material), marinas will need to look at this as any other solid waste stream. As noted on the list above, several counties will accept the wrap for recycling at convenience centers. In counties that do not reycle the wrap, we urge marinas to determine their cost to hire a commercial waste company to recycle this wrap, and then charge customers the appropriate recycling fee when wrap is installed in the fall. Estimates indicate it might only cost about $3-4 per boat. Yards where shrink wrap is installed by contractors will need to work with those contractors to collect a recycling fee from customers as necessary. Of course, the ultimate environmental solution, for boaters who can make the investment, is a re-usable canvas cover. |
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