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Maryland Clean Marinas Underway 
December, 2014

Greetings!   

 

winter boatyard

With the end of the year comes holidays and celebrations, but also important tasks for business operators.  Some key reminders are included below.   

 

Clean Marina Workshops, workforce development, and other interesting news are also detailed in this issue.   

  

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year! 

 

~~~_/)  
Donna Morrow
Clean Marina Program Manager
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Workforce Development in Marine Trades

The Marine Trades Association of Maryland has launched a visionary project known as the Marine Trades Industry Partnership (MTIP). This innovative collaboration is comprised of MTAM; EARN Maryland (Employment Advancement Right Now), employers in the maritime industry, local workforce development professionals, and educators. Organizations and businesses are joining forces to strategically plan for short and long-term workforce development in the marine industry in Maryland.     

 

The Marine Trades Pre-Apprentice Program includes a maritime immersion workshop taught over the weekend of May 1-3 at Camp Letts in Edgewater, MD. Following the completion of the weekend course, applicants will be eligible for placement into a six week paid summer internship that will start at various times after Memorial Day, depending on the discretion of the hiring organization. The application is available here http://mtam.org/jobs-career-training/pre-apprentice-program/application .  

Bottom Wash Water Deadline March 1, 2015 

**Meet Limits or Cease Discharging**   

bottom cleaning 

The Maryland Department of the Environment issues and enforces the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas 10-MADownload and print the entire Discharge Permit for Marinas here or visit www.mde.maryland.gov and use the search box function. 

The General Discharge Permit for Marinas regulates:    1) the discharge of waste water from washing boat bottoms and 2) the storm water runoff from areas involved in boat repair.  This Permit is in effect from March 1, 2011 through February 28, 2016.  MDE re-issues the General Permit approximately every five years. Pages 14-16 and 24 deal directly with bottom wash water and the topics summarized below. 

 

This Permit phased in much tighter restrictions on the discharge of bottom wash water starting in 2012 when professional testing and reporting to MDE was required.  On March 1, 2013 discharge limits took effect for total suspended solids (50 mg/L) and oil and grease (15mg/L).

The final change takes effect March 1, 2015 (less than 90 days from now).  At this time, boatyards/marinas washing boat bottoms must either meet very low limits for dissolve copper, zinc, and lead, or cease discharging.

 
Experience shows that most facilities will need to cease discharging the waste water by either: a) plumbing the waste to the sanitary sewer system (local approval required); b) installing a collection and recycling system; c) pumping waste water into a tank for removal by licensed hauler; or d) evaporation or other means. Many facilities have already complied.  Many other have yet to do so.  MDE Enforcement has visited many facilities and will likely continue to do so.  Make sure your facility is compliant and avoid steep fines. 

Contact staff at the Maryland Department of the Environment with questions.

Robert Pudmericky can be reached at [email protected] or 410-537-4006.  MDE staff will also be at upcoming Clean Marina workshops to answer questions.  Read more below.

 

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.   

Clean Marina Workshops in January 
 

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.

 

Additionally, staff from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will give a review of the General Permit for Discharges from Marinas, which governs storm water runoff from boat repair areas and boat wash water discharge.  By March 1, 2015 boat repair facilities must either meet strict limits for dissolved metals in their bottom wash discharges, or cease discharging to state waters. Managers of boatyards or marinas that have repair facilities are encouraged to attend this important presentation.  We also encourage those who have already ceased discharges to share their experiences.
  • January 13  Holiday Inn, Solomons
  • January 15  Holiday Inn Express, Chestertown
  • January 21  Annapolis Recreation Center, Annapolis 

Invitations and details will be sent to marinas by mail soon.  Contact [email protected]   with questions or to register. 

Maryland Clean Marina of the Year Contest Returns!  
Sheller Award
Jon Sheller (center) Accepts Award for Small Boatyard 2013

T
he 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 2014.

 

Now in its fourth 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 2, 2015.  

 

Prizes have already been donated by Fawcett Boat Supplies and MESCO! 

 

Complete Contest information is available on the Clean Marina webpage.

 

DNR Announces Ice Breaking Operations

 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will have four boats available this winter to break up ice on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The cleared passageways allow for watermen, tug boat and barge captains, and marine crews to continue work through the season. 

DNR encourages all commercial watermen to move their vessels near ice breaking boats prior to freezing conditions.   Regional ice breaking locations and vessel specifics (subject to change) are located at dnr.maryland.gov/boating/ice_breaking.asp

 

 
Proposed No Discharge Zone for Chester River

At the request of the Chester River Association, the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and the Environment will apply to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for designation of the Chester River and its tributaries as a No Discharge Zone (NDZ). An NDZ is a body of water where boaters may not discharge treated waste from Type I or II marine sanitation devices.  Raw sewage discharge is already illegal within 3 miles of the U.S. coast.

Three public meetings were held this fall in the Chester River watershed and public comments, both for and against the proposal, will be submitted with the application to EPA.  The EPA regional administrator is expected to make a determination within 90 days of receipt of the application. If approved, the NDZ may take effect during the 2015 boating season.  Read more on our website: www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating 


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 yearMarinas 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).  Click the link above to learn more.