Buddy’s Marina Signs Clean Marina Pledge

Buddy’s Marina Signs Clean Marina Pledge
Marina Enrolls in DNR’s Clean Marina Initiative to Reduce Pollution
CALIFORNIA, MD — Buddy’s Marina in California, Md. (St. Mary’s County) has pledged to take measures to protect Maryland’s waterways and to seek certification as a Maryland Clean Marina in the coming year. By signing the Clean Marina Pledge, marina owners, Jackie and Buddy Winston have committed to do their part to “keep Maryland’s waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients and debris.” A total of 172 boating facilities have now taken the Clean Marina Pledge.
Signing the Clean Marina Pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally-responsible marina through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Maryland Clean Marina Initiative. The Initiative promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats. To achieve full standing as a Clean Marina, managers must implement measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage disposal; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; stormwater runoff; and facilities management, as applicable.
Recognized Clean Marinas may use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising and on their letterhead. They receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site, and promotion in Clean Marina publications.
The goal of the program is to certify 25 percent of Maryland’s 600 marinas as Clean Marinas by the end of 2004. To date, 68 marinas have been certified as Clean Marinas. Another 15 boating facilities, such as public ramps, have been certified as Clean Marina Partners. Partners are much smaller boating facilities, such as boat ramps or maritime museums which, while they are not true marinas, have committed to reducing their own waste and educating their customers on clean boating practices. Boaters are encouraged by the Department to patronize Maryland Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners.
For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative or to order free pollution prevention materials for boaters, call DNR, toll-free in Maryland at (877) 620-8DNR, extension 8770 or visit www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/.

Posted February 20, 2004