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Maryland Clean Marinas Under Way 

Autumn, 2014

    

 

I hope this boating season has been, and continues to be, safe and successful for you and your business.  In this issue I hope you enjoy reading about:

  • A new Clean Marina,
  • A proposed "No Discharge Zone" for Chester River,
  • Workshop Development Training Session 9/18,
  • Free fuel spill response training,
  • What "sustainability" means, and
  • The new DNR App 

Please visit the website or  contact me if you have questions.  And remember, this could be the year your facility becomes a Clean Marina!

 

~~~_/)  
Donna Morrow
Clean Marina Program Manager
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  A New Maryland Clean Marina!

 

Essex Marina and Boat Sales is the latest marina to be added to the growing list of Maryland Clean Marinas. The marina earned the certification for its work to prevent pollution and meet regulations for more sustainable operations. 

 

Owner Michael Darenberg carefully controls marina operations to ensure things are kept clean.  For example, staff use vacuum sanders when sanding boat hulls, to capture dust and keep it out of the air or water.  The marina also provides free pumpouts, so boaters can easily empty sewage holding tanks.  Along with wash water containment and storm water controls, the marina prevents pollution in all areas of its operations.

 

"This process showed me a few areas where I could improve," said Mr. Darenberg.  "We want to do the best we can here so I'm glad I did this," he continued. 

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No Discharge Zone Proposed for Chester River
PUBLIC MEETINGS 9/23 and 10/2

 

The State is accepting public comment on possibly designating the Chester River and its tributaries as a No Discharge Zone (NDZ) ─ an area where both treated and untreated sewage discharges from vessels are prohibited. The Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and the Environment, in cooperation with the Chester River Association, are planning to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for the designation.

 

It is already illegal to discharge raw/untreated sewage within three miles of the nation's coast. However within a NDZ, all boat sewage ─ even treated ─ is prohibited. With this, boat operators must hold their sewage onboard for disposal at a pumpout facility or out at sea, beyond the three miles. If approved, the NDZ for Chester River may take effect during the 2015 boating season.
 

Interested members of the public are invited to a public meeting to ask questions, provide comments, and learn more about the proposed Chester River NDZ.  

Meeting times and locations:

  • Chestertown Town Hall 9/23/14 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Rock Hall Town Hall 10/2/14 at 6:00 p.m.

For those who can not attend a meeting, comments or questions should be sent to the Chester River Association at: [email protected]  


 

Learn more about NDZ's here.     
 

Read More here...

 

Workforce Development Training Session Thursday, September 18   MTAM logo

 

The Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) will host the first of several new quarterly training sessions designed to create awareness, provide opportunities for engagement and develop long-term strategic solutions for the marine trades industry.


 

The event, scheduled for Thursday, September 18 at 4 p.m. at Port Annapolis Marina will focus on a host of workforce development topics, including: big picture trends, what's going on with four-year universities, how to match up degrees and training with the trades, and how best to support the trades as careers.


 

Event attendees will include representatives from the maritime industry, educational organizations and workforce development agencies.  There is no cost to attend the event and members of the press are welcome.  For more information, contact the Marine Trades Assn. of Maryland at 410-269-0741.

What Does "Sustainable" Really Mean?

The September issue of Marina Dock Age Magazine contained an intriguing article by Dan Natchez questioning what "sustainable" really means.  

 

For Clean Marinas or anyone who has tried to make "green" choices when building or remodeling, it is not always clear what is behind the claims of various products.  Read the article here... 


Boat U.S. Foundation Offering Free Spill Response Training  fuel spill kit

 
A new online course called "Spill Prevention and Response for Marina Staff" is now available at http://www.boatus.org/spill-prevention/ .  The course features videos, interactive exercises and interviews with spill responders and marina managers.  Designed to minimize risk to people, marinas, and the environment, this free training program was funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation.  Give it a try! 
Love Maryland's Outdoors?  There's an App for That!

Enjoying Maryland's great outdoors has never been easier with the Department of Natural Resources' new mobile app! The Access DNR application provides the State's hunters, anglers, boaters, park-goers ─ anyone seeking outside adventure ─ all of the latest in nature-related recreation, information and news right at their fingertips.  Read More...