Mears Marina in Annapolis has earned the distinction of being named the 30th certified Clean Marina in Maryland. The Clean Marina designation indicates that the facility has met 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).
Mears Marina is nestled along Back Creek in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. They have over 230 slips and a boatyard that is managed independently of the marina. Marina manager Desiree Bell and owner Louis Hartge of Hartge Yacht Services worked together to meet the Clean Marina award criteria. Under the guidance of assistant marina manager Nancy Bray, both the marina and the boatyard have refined their pollution prevention measures. For example, Ms. Bray developed new environmental policies for all marina customers. The policies address sewage management, trash control, oil pollution control, and underwater hull cleaning. "We have been promoting environmental-responsibility for years," said Ms. Bray. "For example, we have an extensive recycling program. Through the Clean Marina Initiative we have enhanced our efforts and proved that an older marina can be a clean marina."
As part of his contribution to Clean Marina certification, Mr. Hartge uses filter fabric to prevent particles dislodged by pressure washing from running into the creek. He also stores solvents in fire-safe containers and uses vacuum sanders to capture sanding debris.
"Certified Clean Marinas have something to teach all of us," said Department of Natural Resources Clean Marina Coordinator Elizabeth Fuller Valentine. "Mears Marina and the other marinas have assumed individual responsibility for healthy land and water. Just as importantly, they are demonstrating that business interests can be compatible with environmental protection." CMI promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas, boat yards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats
Each of the 30 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), 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, 118 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 was created to recognize boating facilities-other than marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs-that are implementing pollution prevention measures.
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: 4-19-2001
