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Maryland Clean Marinas Underway 
December, 2012 
winter boatyard Greetings!
  
I hope you will find this newsletter informative and helpful as you wrap up 2012, prepare for 2013, and take time to reflect and relax.  Operating marinas and boatyards is more challenging than ever before, but we hope you will consider the Clean Marina Program a helpful resource to you throughout the year.  
  
Happy holidays and fair winds,

~~~_/)   Donna Morrow
Clean Marina Program Administrator
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2013 Clean Marina Workshops Recommended for All Marine Facilities
 

workshop

There will be something for nearly everyone at the 2013 Clean Marina workshops and all marina managers are encouraged to attend. "Save the Date" cards have been mailed and invitations with more detail will also be mailed this week. 

 

For those unfamiliar with the Clean Marina Program, a session will discuss the benefits to certification, the resources available to participants, and review several specific Clean Marina practices. Managers of existing Clean Marinas will also be available to share their experiences.

 

There will also be a discussion of the General Discharge Permit 10-MA. Staff from the Maryland Department of the Environment will explain the requirements to professionally sample wash water discharged to waters of the state, as well as how to properly report the findings.

 

Workshop speakers will also discuss pending regulations for limiting emissions (VOCs) from painting operations and the Maryland pumpout grant program.

 

Dates and Locations:

  • January 15 Spring Cove Marina, Solomons
  • January 17 Skipjack Cove Yachting Resort, Georgetown
  • January 23 Annapolis Recreation Center

 

To register, send names and the date of workshop you want to attend to [email protected]  Directions will be sent upon receipt of registration.  Space is limited and priority goes to marina and boatyard operators in Maryland.

BIMC 
Two New Maryland Clean Marinas!

 

This fall the Baltimore Inner Harbor Marine Center and the Annapolis Sailing School earned the Maryland Clean Marina Award.  Pictured at left is Ben Ayres, manager of the Inner Harbor Marine Center with his award. 

 

The two facilities are quite different but both met the applicable award criteria.  The Inner Harbor Marine Center serves transient yachts in excess of 100' and operates a busy fuel dock.  Staff here also conduct hundreds of pumpouts each season with both in-slip service and a fixed pump at the fuel dock. 

 

By contrast, the Annapolis Sailing School operates small sailboats along with a storage yard where boat repairs and maintenance are performed.   The staff shares environmental education items with all students and has strict rules regarding boat repairs done on site.  Additionally, they have stopped all boat bottom washing to prevent any discharge of contaminated waste water.

 

The two new Clean Marinas bring the total to 147 certified facilities in Maryland.  This figure also reflects the few marinas that, over the years, have been de-certified by the program.  There are approximately 600 marinas and boatyards in Maryland and about 25 percent are now certified Clean Marinas. 

 
Tier II Reporting Forms Due by March 1 
  Rule Book

Facilities with the capacity to store over 10,000 pounds of a hazardous material--which is about 1,500 gallons of fuel--are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report their fuel storage to emergency responders by March 1 each year. Marinas should mark their calendars and file in January or February.  There is no cost to file for marinas, but steep fines can result from not filing when required to do so. 

  

Reporting is done on-line to the State of Maryland and, in some counties, a paper form is also submitted to the Local Emergency Planning Commission and local Fire Department (if they are not one in the same).  Marinas in the following jurisdictions do NOT need to mail the paper forms (on-line reporting is sufficient):

 

 Allegany County Frederick County
 Anne Arundel County Harford County
 Baltimore City Howard County
 Baltimore County Montgomery County
 Carroll County Queen Anne's County

To learn more and to access the on-line reporting system, visit the Maryland Department of the Environment's website
haul out 
Clean Marina Best Practices for Winter

 

Preparing boats for the off season is an excellent time to employ pollution prevention "best practices."  The following list combines recommendations for boatyards and boat owners.

 

  • Add fuel stabilizers to prevent fuel from going bad. 
  • Don't fill fuel tanks to the maximum capacity.  Leave room in the tank (10%) for fuel to expand when tempuratures rise in spring.
  • Pump out holding tanks before storing boats for the winter.
  • If you plan to recycle shrink wrap in the spring, consider collecting a small surcharge to cover the expense when the wrap is installed.  ($2-5 per boat may offset dumpster and recycling fees.)
  • Let contractors and boaters know where they can recycle used oil, batteries, and antifreeze if you do not recycle it for them.  Maryland Environmental Service keeps a list of public recycling tanks and most battery vendors will accept used batteries for recyling.  Simply printing and posting a list for your area will make it easy for people to do the right thing.
  • Boat owners can take waste gas and other hazardous waste to a "Household Hazardous Wast Collection" event in their county.  Share the information with boat owners.  
 
Last Call! 2012 Clean Marina of the Year Contest 
 

 

All certified Maryland Clean Marinas are eligible for the 2012 Clean Marina of the Year Contest. Nominations will be accepted until 5pm on January 4, 2013 and should be sent to [email protected] 

 

Prizes have been donated by MESCO, Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises, and Elias Environmental/EMP.  If your company would like to donate a prize, please contact Donna Morrow at the email address above.

 

Customers, staff, and even marina owners can nominate their favorite Maryland Clean Marina. The winners will be announced in January.   Winners will be selected in four categories based on size and services. Complete contest information is available on the Clean Marina webpage.

 
Pumpout Operations & Maintenance Invoices  
  
Marinas participating in the pumpout Operations and Maintenance (O&M) grant program are reminded that they must submit their invoices to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by January 15, 2013. The O&M grant program helps marinas "break even" for their costs to operate and maintain pumpouts. Income from pumpout fees must be deducted from the pumpout expenses.
 
Marinas must have an approved 2012 grant application on file to be eligible for reimbursement. (Application packets are mailed to marinas each spring.) The program can provide up to $2,000 to participating marinas to cover costs such as septic hauling, replacement parts, or repairs.

 

Invoice forms were provided with application packets in the spring but, if another is needed, please contact: [email protected]  To expedite the reimbursement process marinas must include proper documentation, including proof of payment, when submitting their invoices to DNR. Proof of payment includes copies of cancelled checks, a statement from a vendor showing the invoice was paid (zero balance), or credit card receipts.  

 

Likewise, DNR and its federal partner (US Fish and Wildlife Service) will not pay tax or mark-up on items used from the marina's stock (e.g., antifreeze).  Receipts showing the marina's cost for those items must be submitted to receive reimbursement.

 

For more information, marinas may call the Clean Vessel Act grant coordinator, Ms. Christie Fuentes at 410-260-8772.