Bill's Boats And Key Yacht Club Take Clean Marina Pledge

Bill's Boats and Key Yacht Club, both located in Baltimore, are striving to protect the resource that supports recreational boating in Maryland: clean water. By signing the Clean Marina Pledge, Bill's Boats Owner Robert Poleski and Manager Michael Poleski, along with Key Yacht Club Commodore Daniel A. Carroll, Jr., have committed to do their part to "keep Maryland's waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients and debris." A total of 97 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.

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 2004. To date, 20 marinas have been certified as Clean Marinas. Boaters are encouraged to patronize Maryland Clean Marinas.

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: 11-1-2000