There’s a snappy new flag to watch for this summer. Maine boatyards and marinas who come “clean” will be flying an oversized green, blue and white burgee-shaped banner on their yardarms to publicly announce their newly earned status.
Sponsored by the Maine Marine Trade Association, the Maine Clean Boatyards and Marinas Program is, according to its mission statement, “a collaborative partnership among industry, state and federal agencies and environmental organizations dedicated to promoting best management practices in boatyards and marinas.”
A federal grant administered by the State Planning Office’s Coastal Program funds the new initiative. Other partners include the Maine Departments of Environmental Protection and Marine Resources, the Ocean Conservancy, the Portland Water District and Maine Sea Grant.
In a pilot project completed last year, five boatyards or marinas were awarded clean designations in the Casco Bay area: Paul’s Marina in Brunswick, Great Island Boat Yard in Harpswell, DiMillos and Portland Yacht Services in Portland and Yankee Marina in Yarmouth. Panther Run Marina on Sebago Lake has also earned the award.
Once an emphatic doubting Thomas, Great Island Boat Yard owner Frank Kibbe says, “It’s a great idea. We’re extremely vulnerable here, shallow, not much tidal flow. Our customers are appreciative, respectful of the effort.”
Judy Marsh of Paul’s Marina says, “Sure it can be expensive, especially if you’ve never done anything. We pick a project a year, depending on our budget.” But she appreciates MMTA’s approach. “Don’t hound. Let us work on it. Make suggestions and stand back.”
Both Paul’s and DiMillos require signed contracts from their customers agreeing to abide by clean boatyard rules. Kibbe doesn’t require anything in writing, but “if they’re caught in violation, they’re gone!”
On June 10, the Boothbay Region Boatyard was the first facility in the geographically expanded second phase of the program to receive its burgee. In the pipeline are Wayfarer Marine in Camden, Handy Boat Services in Falmouth, Journey’s End Marina in Rockland, Morris Yachts on Mt. Desert Island, Turtle Head Marina in Hampden, Southport Island Marine, Seal Cove Boatyard in Harborside, and several others. “We have facilities practically beating down our doors to get certified,” say Pam Parker of the Maine DEP and member of the clean boatyard advisory committee.
Here’s how the program works: On request, the Maine Clean Boatyards and Marinas office will send the inquiring facility a copy of the Best Management Practices Checklist developed during the Casco Bay pilot project. The checklist is based on a committee revision of the Best Management Practice guidelines, originally authored by the state DEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and representatives from the marine industry. “We actually made [the guidelines] more strict,” says Steve Bunnell, president of MTTA. He reasons that a high standard lends credibility.
The checklist addresses five environmentally critical areas: storm water runoff management, erosion and sedimentation control; boat maintenance and repair; fueling activities; waste recycling, disposal and storage; and boat pump outs and sewage.
Yards sign a pledge to work toward these five goals throughout the coming year. At any time, the owner may invite a volunteer verification team to evaluate progress. (Signing the pledge doesn’t keep regulators away. “It’s not a get out of jail free card but it is a talking point,” says Bunnell.) Participating businesses must meet or exceed state and federal standards of environmental compliance to earn designation.
Any Maine boatyard or marina is encouraged to participate in the new program, although during this second phase, emphasis is being placed on the area between Cape Small and Mount Desert Island where the pleasure boat traffic is heaviest.
For more information, contact Susan Swanton, Maine Marine Trade Association 207-773-8725 or swanton@mmtaonline.com.
