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Since marinas are located at the water’s edge--whether on the ocean, bay, river
or lake--pollutants generated from marinas, boats, and boat maintenance
activities pose an immediate threat to the health of aquatic systems and pose
other environmental hazards.
U.S. EPA has identified several sources of pollution
associated with marinas and boating activities. These include:
- Poorly flushed waterways.
- Pollutants discharged from boats (recreational, commercial and live-aboards).
- Pollutants carried in stormwater runoff.
- Physical alteration of wetlands and
shellfish/other benthic communities during construction of marinas, ramps, and
related facilities.
- Pollutants generated from boat maintenance activities on land and in the
water.
This page will focus on the programs available to assist in pollution
problems related to oil and household hazardous waste in boating activities and
at marinas.
Use of Block Grant Funds
If the grantee has determined that marina and boater outreach is a venue that
needs to be addressed in their jurisdiction, Block Grant funds may be used for
collection and education programs for recycling of used oil and filters.
Eligible grant projects specifically for marinas include:
Grantees need to consider when they begin to plan for a marina program that
bays, coastlines, lakes, and rivers are served by a number of federal, state,
and local governmental agencies. Pollution prevention programs offered by the
agencies vary as well. Summarized below are the agencies involved in offering
marina and boating pollution prevention programs. It is suggested that grantees
take a look at this information to become familiar with the "players."
Other State Agencies
California Coastal Commission
The Commission (CCC) is the lead agency for
carrying out California’s coastal management program and to plan and regulate
development in the coastal zone consistent with the policies of the California
Coastal Act. CCC oversees all of the California coast except San Francisco Bay.
SF Bay area is administered by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
CCC programs include:
Boating Clean and Green Campaign.
This program provides a statewide initiative to
reduce oil pollution from boats by educating boaters and increasing the
services available to boaters for used oil collection and preventing oil
discharge. The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation is southern
California’s outreach partner in the campaign. The campaign includes the
following statewide programs:
- Conferences such as the Used Oil Forum and Boating into the 21st
Century.
- Boater kits.
- Outreach material.
- Dockwalkers training.
- Boat launch ramp signs and stickers.
- Boater surveys.
- Technical assistance.
- Coastal cleanup days/Marina cleanup days.
- CA Clean Boating Network.
- Boat shows and events.
State Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
Cal Boating
protects significant natural resources through its programs to provide for
public access to the waterway, and promoting recreational boating safety. These
programs include funding and designing the construction and improvement of:
Boating facilities.
Beach erosion control.
Aquatic weed control.
Boating safety education.
Clean Vessel Act Grants.
Supporting and training local boating law enforcement officers.
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
The mission of the SWRCB is to
ensure the highest reasonable quality for waters of the state, while allocating
those waters to achieve the optimum balance of beneficial uses. The joint
authority of water quality protection enables the SWRCB to provide comprehensive
protection for California’s waters.
State Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act (OSPR). OSPR is the lead state agency
charged with oil spill prevention and response within California’s marine
environment.
CalTIP (Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters). This is a confidential
secret witness program to encourage the public to provide DFG information to
the arrest of poachers and polluters. The caller is eligible for cash reward
if the information leads to a citation or an arrest. The toll free number
operates 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-888-DFG-CALTIP.
Department of Parks and Recreation
Responsible for almost one-third of
California’s scenic coastline, California State Parks manages the state’s finest
coastal wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and dune systems. State Parks consists of
nearly 1.3 million acres, with over 280 miles of coastline; 625 miles of lake
and river frontage; nearly 18,000 campsites; and 3,000 miles of hiking, biking,
and equestrian trails.
Federal Agencies
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
The USCG's responsibilities in the field of oil
pollution can be traced back to 1924 when the Oil Pollution Act was passed that
required penalties for deliberate discharge of oil into coastal navigable waters
of the US. In 1967, the Department of Transportation directed that each USCG’s
district set up contingency plans for oil spill cleanup operations. The USCG
has been instrumental in both development and implementation of new techniques
to deal with oil pollution. This includes spill prevention as well as cleanup
technology. Prevention includes improvements in cargo vessel safety, control and
navigation devices, and improved oil loading and offloading methods. Cleanup
technology includes hazardous material detection devices, spill containment
equipment, oil dispersant chemicals and removal skimmers. The main focus on USCG
is oil spill prevention and cleanup. In addition to overseeing the coastal
waters of California, the USCG also covers the Colorado River, Lake Tahoe, and
the Delta Region
Bureau of Reclamation (BR)
The BR is under Department of the Interior
jurisdiction and manages water resources in five regions west of the Mississippi.
The BR is the 6th largest generator of hydroelectric power and the largest
wholesale supplier in the United States. Activities under the BR include dams,
reservoirs, hydroelectric power plants, canals, and water treatment. The mission
of the BR is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an
environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American
public.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The BLM plays an important role in the
Clean Action Plan because of its stewardship of critical water resources,
including watersheds, riparian areas, and aquatic habitat. In addition, the BLM
is seeking to clean up abandoned hardrock mine sites, which can be a major
source of water quality degradation and pollution.
U.S. Forest Service
This agency is actively pursuing initiatives to restore
watersheds, improve water quality, and protect aquatic habitats.
Volunteer Organizations
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (Auxiliary)
The Auxiliary is made up of
volunteers who assist the USCG with local programs on boating and marina safety.
The Auxiliary has provided training for Dockwalkers, assisted in the development
of the marina assistance program and marina certification program.
Local municipalities
According to Section 660 of the Harbors and Navigation
Code, municipalities can regulate boating within its geographic jurisdiction by
implementing restrictions related to speed zones, time of day, special use
areas, and pollution control measures.
Additional Resources and References
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