North East River Yacht Club Signs Clean Marina Pledge
ELKTON, MD — The North East River Yacht Club at Elkton in Cecil County pledged to seek Clean Marina certification this year. By signing the Clean Marina Pledge, the membership and Commodore William Cohee made a commitment to “keep Maryland’s waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients, and debris.” A total of 181 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 by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) through its Clean Marina Initiative. This program promotes voluntary adoption of measures that reduce pollution from marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats. To achieve full standing as a Clean Marina, managers must control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage disposal; solid, liquid, and hazardous wastes; storm-water runoff; and facilities management. Certified Clean Marinas receive confidential help from program staff to meet state regulations.
A Clean Marina may use the Clean Marina logo in its advertising and on its letterhead. Each receives a flag to fly at its facility, a page on the Clean Marina website, 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, 69 marinas have been certified. Another 15 boating facilities have been certified as Clean Marina Partners. Partners are much smaller facilities, such as boat ramps and maritime museums, which are not true marinas but have committed to reducing their own waste and educating their customers about clean-boating practices. Boaters are encouraged by DNR to patronize Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners.
For more information about the Clean Marina Initiative or to order free pollution-prevention materials for boaters, call DNR toll free in Maryland at 877-620-8DNR, ext. 8770, or visit www.dnr.state.md.us/boating.
Posted May 7, 2004