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Maryland Clean Marinas Underway 
December, 2013

   

 

winter boatyard

Snow has come, and it certainly feels like winter.  If you have a boatyard, I hope this newsletter will help you finish up important paperwork for the end of the year, and enjoy the new year with peace of mind. If you store fuel there is a reminder for you, too.   

 

All marinas should consider attending a Clean Marina workshop in January and will find tips for connecting with your customers in this newsletter. 

 

 Please visit the website or contact me if you have questions. 

 

Happy holidays and best wishes for a prosperous new year, 

~~~_/)  
Donna Morrow
Clean Marina Program Administrator
DNR logo
  
Clean Marina Program Seeks Grants for Wash Water Collection and Treatment Systems  

 

 

The Clean Marina Program has applied for funding from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to prevent the discharge of sediment from boat washing. If approved, the Clean Marina Program may be able to administer cost-share grants to certified Clean Marinas/Boatyards for installation of: a) closed-loop wash water recycling systems, b) holding tanks for collecting boat wash water, or c) pretreatment and diversion of wash water to sanitary sewer (with approval of operator).  

 

Unfortunately, funding will not be available retroactively for projects already installed.  If the Clean Marina project is approved by the Trust Fund, announcements and grant applications for boatyards will follow in this newsletter and by mail in spring 2014. Facilities that are not yet certified Clean Marinas can seek certification at any time to be eligible for the grants (if approved).  Visit our website or register to attend a workshop in January (story below). 


Maryland Clean Marina of the Year Contest Returns!  

 

Paradise Award
John Hiser (center) accepts the Clean Marina of the Year Award for Small Marina 2012. 
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is calling on marina customers, staff, marine contractors and the general public to help them choose the Clean Marina of the Year for 2013.

 

Now in its third year, the annual contest recognizes Maryland Clean Marinas that excel in their efforts to run a clean facility. Nominations will be grouped into four categories based on marina size and services provided. Submissions are being accepted now through January 3, 2014

 

Complete Contest information is available at on the Clean Marina webpage. 


 
workshopClean Marina Workshops Set for January-Plan to Attend!  
 

workshop Managers of all types of marine facilities are encouraged to attend a Clean Marina Workshop. The workshops will review the steps and benefits to becoming a certified Clean Marina and free Clean Marina Guidebooks and other materials will be provided.

 

Additional topics include: stormwater fee credits for Clean Marinas (in AA and BA counties), pumpout grants, federal grants for boating infrastructure, the possibility of grants to certified Clean Marinas for wash water collection and treatment systems, and a review of several important compliance items including the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas.

 

January 14 Crescent Yacht Club, Middle River

January 16 Holiday Inn Express, Cambridge

January 22 Annapolis Recreation Center, Annapolis 

 

Invitations and details will be sent by mail soon.  To register, send names and date/location of the workshop to [email protected] 

Important Deadlines for Maryland Boatyards!  

bottom cleaning 

KNOW YOUR PERMIT:
The General Permit for Discharges from Marinas, and all associated guidance and forms, are available on the

 

COLLECT AND TEST: Boat bottom washing must take place over some type of containment (portable mat, permanent pad) and be filtered. IF the marina discharges the water ground or surface waters of the state, samples must be collected and

tested by a lab twice between September and December 31 and twice in the spring. 

 

MEET LIMITS TO DISCHARGE THE WATER Limits on Total Suspended Solids (50 mg/L) and Oil and Grease (15 mg/l) took effect March 1, 2013.  Amounts in wash water must be below these limits to be discharged to ground or surface waters. 

 

REPORT TEST RESULTS TO MDE: Marinas must transfer the lab testing results to a "Discharge Monitoring Report" (DMR).  DMRs must be postmarked to MD Dept. of the Environment by January 28th and July 28 in the summer. READ PAGE 24 OF THE PERMIT for instructions on where to send the DMR. (DMRs were provided by MDE when each marina was first covered by this Discharge Permit.)

 

PLAN TO END ALL DISCHARGE BY MARCH 1, 2015:

Boatyards and marinas should prepare to cease discharging the water from washing boat bottoms by February 2015. New limits for the amount of copper, zinc, and lead allowed in the discharge take effect March 1, 2015.  Read PAGE 15 of the Permit. 

 

NOTIFY: Inform the MD Department of the Environment when the discharge of boat wash water ceases. Once acknowledged by MDE, testing and DMRs are no longer required! Contact Paul Hlavinka at 410-537-3631 or [email protected]  or for more information.  (For those who knew Ed Gertler, he has retired from State service after 43 years.)

 

UNDERSTAND THE PENALTIES:
Penalties for not complying with the Permit, which is regulated by the Federal Clean Water Act, start at $2,500 per violation, per day and go up to $1,000,000 and jail time. 

Storm Water sampling

Storm Water Sampling Also Required at Boatyards

 

Marine facilities covered by the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas are required to collect quarterly storm water samples. The current quarter ends December 31. 

 

Use the Quarterly Visual Monitoring Form and directions available on Maryland Department of the Environment's website.   

 

Collect your sample in a clear jar or other vessel from the outfalls noted on your Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan.  If you don't have direct outfalls, collect a ground sample. Click here for a video showing how to collect a storm water sample from the ground.  

 

Permitted marinas must also document quarterly inspections of their storm water controls (e.g., filter cloth, retention ponds).  During these inspections the marina manager will note any repairs or maintenance needed for storm water controls.  The site inspections should simply be documented in a notebook and kept with all other Permit records.   

 

Outreach and Education of Customersbulletin board

 

The Clean Marina Program urges marinas and boatyards to teach their customers and visitors  about clean boating practices through every outlet possible. For example: 
  • In the marina newsletter, include (or link to) the Clean Boating Tip Sheets found on the Clean Marina website.
  • Have a "how to" workshop on a topic of interest and highlight the environmentally safe products in your ship's store.
  • Have a customer appreciation day and give out free oil-absorbent pads and Clean Boating Tip cards, provided free from the Clean Marina Program on request. 
  • Include Clean Boating Tip Cards in your annual slip renewal mailing. 
  • Have clear rules about pollution prevention in your slip or ground storage agreements.  Sample language is available in the Clean Marina Guidebook.  Be creative!

To request any of the items mentioned above please send an email indicating the quantity requested, and your mailing address, to: [email protected] 

 


Store Fuel?  Remember to File Reporting Form this Winter 

Facilities that can store 10,000 pounds of a hazardous material--

which is about 1,500 gallons of fuel--are required by the Environmental Protection and Community Right-to-Know Act 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 are costly fines for not filing. 

 

 

Reporting must be 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).