ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 14, 2002) – Anne Arundel County’s Casa Rio Marina in Mayo is the 51st marina in Maryland to earn the prestigious Clean Marina Award. The Clean Marina designation indicates that Casa Rio Marina has satisfied the rigorous pollution prevention standards established by Maryland’s Clean Marina Committee and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as part of the agency’s Clean Marina Initiative (CMI).
“The changes we made here to protect the environment also improve our business,” said former owner Don Dunbar. Placing filter fabric under all vessels being scraped or sanded on land, training employees in emergency procedures, and removing unused oil tanks are among the changes instituted by Dunbar and manager Richard Maldeis. New owners Bill Finlay and Susan Climie have embraced the program and have backed Maldeis completely in his efforts to minimize pollution.
“Certified Clean Marinas demonstrate that recreational boating facilities can be run in such a way that they have minimal environmental impacts,” said Clean Marina Coordinator, Elizabeth Fuller Valentine. “The concern Clean Marina operators show for the environment is indicative of the high-standards they uphold throughout their facilities.” CMI promotes voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats.
Each of the 51 Clean Marinas has implemented 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 also receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site (www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina), and promotion in Clean Marina publications.
Signing the Clean Marina pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally responsible marina. So far, 156 entities have taken the pledge. There are approximately 600 boating facilities in Maryland and the CMI’s goal is to certify 150 of those as Clean Marinas or Clean Marina Partners by 2004. The Clean Marina Partner designation recognizes boating facilities other than marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs that are implementing pollution prevention measures. There are 11 certified Clean Marina Partners.
For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, call the Department of Natural Resources at (877) 620-8DNR, ext. 8770, or check DNR’s website at www.dnr.state.md.us/boating.
Posted: 11-20-2002
