CRMC celebrates first Clean Marina in Rhode Island

9/12/07, WAKEFIELD – The RI Coastal Resources Management Council celebrated Rhode Island’s first Clean Marina under its Rhode Island Clean Marina Program on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Allen Harbor Marina in North Kingstown. The marina is the first to achieve Clean Marina status, and the CRMC awarded the town marina with a special flag and a plaque.

The CRMC adopted the Clean Marina Program in February 2007; the voluntary program is designed to protect the state’s coastal waters and benefit the marina industry in Rhode Island. The CRMC developed the program with the cooperation of the RI Department of Environmental Management, RI Marine Trades Association and Save The Bay.

“The CRMC applauds Allen Harbor Marina as the first Clean Marina in Rhode Island; the efforts of the marina will set an example to others in the state,” said CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian. “This program provides an easy to follow process through which Rhode Island marinas can ensure they are environmentally friendly and responsible facilities. We look forward to celebrating other marinas’ accomplishments as they are designated Clean Marinas.”

The Clean Marina Program is designed to reward marinas that go beyond regulatory requirements by applying innovative pollution prevention best management practices (BMPs) to their day-to-day operations. The program was developed by the CRMC with the cooperation of the DEM, RIMTA, and Save The Bay. The CRMC held a number of workshops last May and September to introduce the marine trades industry to the program.

“The Clean Marina initiative says a lot about Rhode Island’s marina trades industry,” said Robert Ballou, Assistant to the Director of DEM. “It says that marinas in the Ocean State recognize and are prepared to act upon their roles as stewards of our marine environment.”   

As part of this program, a Rhode Island Clean Marina Guidebook and self-assessment checklist serve as tools to assist marinas toward becoming RI Clean Marinas, a designation that certifies marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs that have voluntarily exceeded regulatory requirements and have adopted measures to reduce pollution, and recognizes them as environmentally responsible businesses. 

“We’d like to thank CRMC for navigating through this program with us,” said Chris Ruhling, president of RIMTA. “We look forward to seeing a lot more marinas become part of this Clean Marina Program.”

A Clean Marina pledge requires that marinas striving for this designation pledge to do their part to keep the state’s waters free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients and debris. It also states that the marina owners will identify opportunities and implement practices to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance; fueling; sewage handling; storm water management; and facilities management. The marina, once a pledge is signed, must implement the pollution prevention practices within one year and apply to the CRMC for the designation as a Rhode Island Clean Marina.

Marinas that achieve this status will be presented the RI Clean Marina Award and other highly publicized incentives to distinguish them as top tier “green” businesses that offer clean, safe, and environmentally friendly facilities. The designation would also be in lieu of an Operations and Maintenance Plan, now required under the revised Section 300.4 CRMC regulations. Program information is available on the CRMC web site at http://www.crmc.ri.gov/marinas.html.

CRMC Chairman Michael M. Tikoian, Executive Director Grover J. Fugate present a Clean Marina certificate and plaque to Bill Slater, operations manager of Allen Harbor Marina and North Kingstown Town Manager Michael Embury.