Keep It Clean: A Citizen's Guide to Protecting the Coast
This 53-page booklet explains the simple things people can do
in their own homes, backyards, gardens, and driveways to help
the coast no matter where they live. The guide includes alternatives
for household hazardous products and the best disposal of these
products, as well as ideas for waterfront property owners to
prevent erosion and runoff pollution.
A Boater's Basics: Top Ten Tips for Conserving the Coast:
This fact sheet explains some things you can do as a boater
to help the coast.
Dive Smart: This fact sheet explains how to be an environmentally-responsible
diver.
Wildlife watching: This fact sheet offers 10 basic principles
for observing wildlife "in the wild"
Teach Smart: Fast facts on the oceans and links to find
more great teachers' resources.
Runoff Pollution Matching Game: This elementary level game
asks students to match sources of runoff to clues about their
impact on the coast.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 151.57 requires all
oceangoing vessels 40 feet or more in length used in commerce
or equipped with a galley and berthing to have a written
waste management plan. This includes numbered and documented
recreational vessels operating seaward of the inland/international
demarcation line. All boaters may want to look at this to
evaluate things that they can do to improve clean boating!
The Master or Person in Charge of the vessel is responsible
for ensuring that a written waste management plan is on board,
and that each person handling garbage follows that plan.
The plan must describe the vessel’s procedures for collecting,
processing, storing and discharging garbage, and designate the
person who is in charge of carrying out the plan. Remember,
garbage (including food wastes) may not be thrown overboard
on inland waters or in the ocean within three miles of land.
Plastics may not be thrown overboard anywhere. In addition,
33 CFR 151.59 requires that all vessels 26 feet or greater in
length have a MARPOL Annex V placard prominently displayed for
the crew and passengers regardless of whether your boat operates
on inland waters or the ocean.
Nationally,
the water-quality of the lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, coastal
waters and other waterways that we use for boating, fishing, and
swimming are important to our:
We should
all be concerned about potential water-quality impacts of our own
actions and the actions of others, on the water, at the dock, and
even at home, work, or school because we all live, work, and play
downstream of potential sources of waterborne pollutants. As boaters,
we should be especially concerned with the potential impacts of:
Polluted runoff
is a major source of water pollution causing beach closings and
advisories. More than half the nation's coastal water pollution
comes from runoff. Therefore, clean boating and environmental stewardship
begins at home, even if we live far from the nearest river. It is
storm water from urban, suburban, and agricultural land that eventually
supplies the pollutants that may affect our enjoyment of the water.
For more information
click here.
The information
provided here will help you to enjoy clean boating, improve your
health and safety on the water and at home, and encourage you to
take up the banner of environmental stewardship in your daily life
so that we may all enjoy the benefits of swimming, fishing and boating
on the Nation's waters.
There are
many sources of
good information and many ways you can
get involved to help encourage clean boating and good environmental
stewardship.
Boating and Our Economy
Clean boating
and other forms of environmental stewardship (or the lack thereof)
has the potential to affect a significant portion of the Nation's
economy. Each year billions of dollars are spent as millions of
Americans head to the water--a lake, an oceanfront, or their favorite
river--for a few days of relaxation and recreation (U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 2000). This money is spent on food, lodging,
and fuel, as well as special equipment, licenses, and services,
so people can enjoy themselves on and around the water. Each year,
however, closed beaches, fewer fish to catch, and other casualties
of dirty water can affect this dynamic sector of our economy. Economic
factors affected by the quality of our nations waters include:
The population density in coastal counties is 341 people
per square mile - 4 times the national average. 50% of the U.S.
lives on the coast, which is only 11% of the country's land.
These 413 coastal counties generate $1.3 trillion (32%) of the
Gross National Product. The U.S. coast supports 34% of national
employment (over 28 million jobs). The coast supports 40% of
new commercial development and 46% of new residential development.
A third of all Americans visit coastal areas each year,
making a total of 910 million trips while spending about $44
billion. The average American spends 10 recreational days on
the coast each year. 94 million people boat and fish annually.
The travel, tourism, and recreation industries supported
jobs for more than 6.8 million people and generated annual sales
in 1996 of more than $450 billion. Water-related recreation
and tourism make for a large part of those jobs and revenue.
Almost all Americans participate in water-based recreation and
tourism and spend about 10 percent of their income on recreational
activities.
Thirty-five million American anglers, aged 16 or older,
spent $38 billion in pursuit of their sport in 1996. Fishing
expenditures increased by 37 percent between 1991 and 1996.
Over the period from 1955 to 1996, angler participation rates
increased by more than twice the rate of population growth.
If sport fishing were incorporated as a single business, it
would rank 24th on the Fortune 500 list of top sales producers,
surpassing such giants as General Motors, Exxon, Mobil, and
AT&T.
The commercial fishing and shell-fishing industries need
clean wetlands and coastal waters to stay in business. Every
year, the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and coastal areas produce
more than 10 billion pounds of fish and shellfish. The commercial
fishing industry contributes $17 billion to U.S. economy. The
seafood industry in California alone generates sales exceeding
$800 million annually, according to the California Seafood Council.
Community and business leaders also understand the potential
value of waterfront locations. Before passage of the 1972 Clean
Water Act, many of our rivers and waterfronts were so polluted
that no one wanted to go near them, much less invest in new
development. Today waterfronts are often a focal point for urban
renewal in many cities. A waterfront view is a prime selling
feature--as long as the water is clean. Ocean, lake, and riverfront
properties often sell or rent for several times the value of
similar properties located inland.
A
Money magazine survey found that clean water and clean air
are two of the most important factors Americans consider in
choosing a place to live.
The cost of
polluted water is significant. Americans pay for dirty water every
year. For example:
Total economic loss to New Jersey and New York from marine
pollution in 1988 was estimated to be from $3 billion to $7.3
billion, costing 46,000 to 100,000 jobs;
A 1993 outbreak of
Cryptosporidium, a disease-causing microbe, in Milwaukee's
drinking water sickened more than 400,000 people and killed
more than 50;
The toxic microbe
Pfiesteria piscicida has killed millions of fish in North
Carolina since 1995 and tens of thousands of fish in Maryland
in 1997;
Losses to the U.S. seafood and tourism industries from Pfiesteria
are estimated at $1 billion. Maryland alone suffered $43 million
in canning and fishing losses in a single year. North Carolina
is now spending millions of dollars for watershed restoration
in an effort to control potential outbreaks in the future; and
Harmful algae blooms,
which flourish in nutrient-rich waters, have devastated the
scallop industry on Long Island, killed millions of fish in
Texas coastal bays, and sickened many who have eaten contaminated
shellfish or visited stricken seashores.
As evidenced
here, clean boating and other forms of environmental stewardship
have the potential to affect a significant portion of our economy.
Boating and Family
Health and Safety
There are
a number of environmental concerns that can affect your family's
health and safety on the water. Once the basic issues of safe boating
have been addressed, the issue of clean boating should be considered
in terms of your family's health and safety. An overwhelming majority
of Americans--218 million--live within 10 miles of a polluted lake,
river, stream, or coastal area. States have identified almost 300,000
miles of rivers and streams and more than 5 million acres of lakes
that do not meet state water quality goals. Many of these waters
are not considered safe for swimming and are unable to support healthy
fish or other aquatic life.
This information
was compiled for the Nation's lakes, rivers, and ponds for the
USEPA’s 305(b)
Report to Congress. Each water body was only rated in terms
of the intended uses, so for example, a dirty urban stream would
not be considered as a potential drinking water or agricultural
supply. Forty-two states, one tribe, Puerto Rico, and the District
of Columbia reported individual use support status of their lakes,
reservoirs, and ponds. The reporting states and tribes rated aquatic
life use and swimming use in more lakes and identified more impacts
on aquatic life use and swimming use than the other individual uses.
These states and governments reported that fair or poor water quality
impacts aquatic life in over 4.4 million lake acres (31% of the
14.2 million acres surveyed for aquatic life support), and swimming
criteria violations impact 3.8 million lake acres (24% of the 15.4
million acres surveyed for swimming use support). Many states and
tribes did not rate fish consumption use support because they have
not codified fish consumption as a use in their standards.
There are
many pollutants that are considered to be water quality problems.
Most recreational boaters do not spend enough time in contact with
the water to be concerned about many of these pollutants. There
are, however, three problems which are of particular concern for
all boaters. They are:
disease-causing microorganisms;
food poisoning from fish and shellfish by chemicals and
microorganisms; and
injury from waterborne trash.
These problems
are caused by poor environmental stewardship on land and on the
water. These hazards and related problems can be reduced and (or)
avoided with proper awareness of these problems, a little thought,
clean boating/good environmental stewardship, and some advocacy
on your part.
Disease-Causing Microorganisms
Many people
do not make the connection between water-contact and illness, so
this problem goes largely unreported and unnoticed. But, who wants
to spend a day dealing with an unwanted microbiological visitor
when they could be out enjoying the water? Disease-causing microorganisms
are a real problem especially for the elderly, the young, and those
experiencing other health problems. For example:
In 1998 about one-third of the 1,062 beaches reporting to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) had at least
one health advisory or closing;
A 1995 study by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project
of 15,000 bathers at three Santa Monica Bay beaches found that
approximately 1 in every 25 beachgoers who swam near a flowing
storm drain contracted gastrointestinal illness or cold- and
flu-like symptoms;
Seventeen states reported 37 recreational water outbreaks
caused by microorganisms in the latest (1995-1996) available
data from the Centers for Disease Control; and
Currently EPA estimates that at least a half-million cases
of illness annually can be attributed to microbial contamination
in drinking water.
To protect
your loved ones, you need to be aware of this problem, avoid known
problem areas, minimize contact with the water for 24-48 hours after
each storm, and encourage clean boating techniques that minimize
discharge of sanitary waste into the Nation's waters.
Boaters can be a part of
the problem by releasing disease-causing microbes when sanitary
waste is discharged improperly. Commercial and recreational boating
play an important role in American society. Unfortunately, without
proper management, these activities can contribute to water quality
degradation. One type of degradation is the increased concentration
of fecal coliform bacteria (found in the intestinal tracts of all
warm-blooded animals). The discharge of untreated or partially treated
human wastes from vessels can contribute to high bacteria counts
and subsequent increased human health risks, and these problems
can be particularly bad in lakes, slow moving rivers, marinas and
other bodies of water with low flushing rates. Section 312 of the
Clean Water Act helps protect human health and the aquatic environment
from disease-causing microorganisms and hazardous compounds which
may be present in discharges from vessels by regulating appropriate
treatment levels for different water craft.
How do you
find out where it is safe to get out of your boat and swim? Look
at the following information:
The EPA has established a “BEACH Watch” website to disseminate
information about beach water quality,
click
here.
For EPA water quality survey results for specific beaches,
click here.
Read the EPA’s BEACH Watch program
fact sheet that provides the results of the 2001 monitoring
of over 2445 beaches conducted by state and local environmental
and public health officials,
click here.
To get contact information for regional EPA offices,
click here.
To learn what you can do to improve the quality of beach
water, check out the Beachgoers’ Guide,
click here.
For more information about wet weather flows,
click here.
For more information
about disease-causing microorganisms
click here.
Food Poisoning
From Fish and Shellfish
Boating and
fishing are intertwined. Whether we are cooking up our own catch,
or enjoying a meal at the marina or a shore-side restaurant, the
long-term effects of water pollution are increasingly being noticed
by scientists, health-care professionals, and the general public.
It's not that things are getting worse in terms of water quality;
in many ways the Nation's water quality is improving. It is just
that the effects of bioaccumulation and increasing awareness of
the potential dangers have revealed food poisoning from fish and
shellfish. In 1998, 2,506 fish consumption advisories or bans were
issued in areas where fish were too contaminated to eat.
To protect
your loved ones you need to be aware of this problem and encourage
clean boating techniques that minimize discharge of pollutants into
the Nation's waters. For more information about food poisoning from
fish and shellfish
click here.
Aquatic Debris Hazards
Aquatic debris
is one of the more widespread pollution problems threatening our
coastal waters and other aquatic habitats. Marine debris is trash
floating on the ocean or washed up on beaches. Debris comes from
many sources including beachgoers, improper disposal of trash on
land, stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows to rivers and
streams, ships and other vessels, and offshore oil and gas platforms.
Aquatic debris can foul or damage our propellers, rudders, and hulls
causing an unanticipated emergency. During the late 1990s, collisions
with floating debris (not including other vessels) caused about
15 deaths, 80 injuries, and $600,000 in property damage per year
as indicated by US Coast Guard Accident Statistics. Boaters can
also be injured by stepping on trash and other debris, which can
cause injury, infection and even Tetanus. Therefore, as a safe boater
it is wise to ensure that your crew is up to date on all immunizations
and is wearing water-shoes or other appropriate footwear when launching
you boat and when swimming or wading. For more information about
aquatic debris
click here.
Boating and Our Environment
Recreational
boating has increased dramatically over the past few decades, particularly
in the 1960s. The inventory of recreational boats in the U.S. is
estimated to have increased from 2.5 million in 1960, to 7.4 million
in 1970, to 8.6 million in 1980, to 11.0 million in 1990, and 11.9
million in 1996. This is a nearly fourfold increase over the 1960
to 1996 period. All forms of water-borne travel are responsible
for a number of environmental impacts, including air pollution,
habitat disruption caused by wakes and anchors, wildlife collisions,
and releases of solid waste and sewage. The recent USEPA (2000)
Report Indicators of the Environmental Impacts of Transportation
provides a great deal of information about marine pollution as well
as pollution from other forms of transportation.
Air Pollution
Although air
pollutant emissions from maritime vessels are similar to those from
other forms of transportation, there are key differences. In particular,
emissions from maritime vessels tend to occur over different ecosystems
than those from surface transportation. Lower quantities of total
emissions make the effects of vessel emissions less pronounced than
those of motor vehicles. However, emissions have been increasing
rapidly by recreational boats, which has implications for urban
air quality. Marine engines are major contributors of hydrocarbons
(HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions in many areas of the
country. In order to reduce air pollution from recreational boats,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing regulations
that will bring forth a new generation of marine engines featuring
cleaner technology and providing better engine performance. The
Gasoline Marine Final Rule, published
in August 1996, establishes emission standards for new spark-ignition
gasoline marine engines used in personal watercraft and jet boat
applications. Controlling exhaust emissions from new gasoline spark-ignition
(SI ) marine engines is expected to result in a dramatic 75 percent
reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from these engines by the
year 2025. Historical estimates of air pollutants --including Carbon
Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs),
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5) from
water craft are available from the
USEPA.
Habitat Disturbance
Several environmental
impacts result from the wakes of large or high-speed maritime vessels
and anchoring. Wakes from large (e.g., cruise ships) or fast-moving
vessels can cause erosion and vegetative and coral damage in confined
or shallow waters. Wakes can cause strong wave propagation that
is capable of eroding shorelines or stirring up bottom sediments
in shallow areas. Vegetation can be disturbed both by erosion processes
and sedimentation resulting from wakes. Sedimentation reduces the
amount of sunlight available for photosynthetic processes. Corals
also are particularly susceptible to damage from sediments that
have been suspended by the action of wakes. The impacts of wakes
are local in nature and likely to be more pronounced in confined,
high traffic areas.
Fuel and Oil Spills
Releases of
hazardous materials, especially petroleum products, from vessels
are one of the most publicized impacts of maritime transportation.
Many factors determine the extent of damages caused by petroleum
spills, including type of oil spilled (crude or refined), quantity
spilled, distance of release from shore, time of year, weather conditions,
water temperatures, and currents. When an oil spill occurs, toxic
hydrocarbons, such as benzene and toluene, cause immediate wildlife
deaths. Shellfish and non-migratory fish, especially those in the
larval stage, are the most susceptible to these chemicals. Other
chemicals form sticky, tar-like globs on the surface that adhere
to marine wildlife such as birds, otters, and seals, as well as
to sand, rocks, and almost all other substances. Many animals that
come into contact with such chemicals die from drowning or loss
of body heat. Heavy components of oil that sink to the bottom of
bodies of water may have the most profound impacts on ecosystems.
Such pollution can kill or damage benthic organisms and adversely
affect food webs. Oil pollution in the vicinity of shorelines can
cause ecological harm in coastal ecosystems. Humans also experience
health effects from oil spills. Exposure is dependent on how much
oil washes ashore and how much seafood is contaminated and eaten.
Some of the chemicals resulting from spills, such as benzene, are
highly toxic to humans.
Another common
waste is bilge waste, which contains wastewater mixed with oil and
fuel, and is actually generated by the vessels themselves. Refueling
causes problems similar to those of auto refueling stations. One
major difference, however, is that spills can enter waterways directly
during marine refueling. Like auto refueling, volatile organic compounds
VOC can be emitted in vapors. Underground storage tanks used to
hold vessel fuels can also leak their contents into waterways.
Trash
The three
major types of shipboard solid waste are domestic garbage (e.g.,
galley waste and food packaging), operational garbage (e.g., used
fishing gear, fish processing materials, and items used for onboard
maintenance), and cargo-related garbage (e.g., packaging materials
and dunnage). While garbage generation is substantial for U.S. maritime
sectors, quantifying the amount of garbage dumped overboard is difficult.
Maritime travel is not the source of all marine debris. Land-based
sources and stationary maritime sources, such as oil platforms,
account for some portion of marine debris. Even data on garbage
generation are highly uncertain. Other factors, such as the extremely
large distances (often across international borders) that floatable
debris can travel, complicate statistics about vessel garbage. While
these uncertainties affect the accuracy of indicators, the impacts
of debris from vessels are genuine and can be described to some
extent.
The most readily
observable ecological effects of solid waste dumping from marine
vessels are entanglement, ingestion, and ghost fishing. Entanglement
occurs when wildlife come into contact with marine debris and become
trapped. Affected wildlife includes mammals, turtles, birds, fish,
and land animals that inhabit coastlines. Researchers believe that
substantial numbers of animals die or are injured because of entanglement.
In fact, entanglement is thought to be the cause of serious population
declines among some species. Non-deadly injuries can be serious,
causing inability to breathe, swim, feed, or raise young properly.
To see details about estimated trash loadings, entanglement, ingestion,
and ghost fishing
click here.
In addition
to ecological problems, shipboard solid wastes that are dumped overboard
can cause human health problems. These problems are most notably
associated with direct human contact with debris. Examples of this
type of problem include wounds on beaches from sharp debris that
washes up on or near shore and injuries caused by contact with hazardous
chemicals. Other human health hazards associated with debris include
diver entanglement and boat collisions and malfunctions.
Sewage
Sewage dumping
is also a problem for the marine environment. The popularity of
recreational boating in coastal areas has spurred rapid development
of marinas, many of which are not equipped to collect and process
sewage. Boaters who use these marinas often dump sewage in the water,
rather than transporting it to proper pump-out facilities. Even
in cases where marinas or ports are equipped with sewage collection
facilities, many vessels are still responsible for sewage pollution.
Some vessels do not contain a marine sanitation device (boat toilet),
and, as a result, boaters sometimes dump sewage overboard. Some
vessels are equipped with marine sanitation devices that are meant
to treat sewage and dump it in the water. If these devices are functioning
improperly, untreated sewage can be dumped. Fees for pump-out of
sewage holds on vessels also give boaters the incentive to dump
sewage illegally.
Sewage from
vessels can cause serious local impacts on water quality and human
health, especially in areas of high recreational boat use. Studies
in Puget Sound, Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, and Chesapeake
Bay have shown that boats can be a significant source of human wastes
in coastal waters, especially where the volume of boat traffic is
high and hydrologic flushing is low. The two major impacts of sewage
discharges are introduction of microbial pathogens into the environment
and reduction in dissolved oxygen levels. Waterborne bacteria and/or
viruses that enter waterways from vessel sewage discharges can cause
serious ailments and diseases, such as acute gastroenteritis, hepatitis,
typhoid, and cholera. Many marinas are located in or near shellfish
growing areas, and sewage dumped from the boats or at marinas has
the potential to contaminate. Pathways of exposure for humans include
both direct water contact and ingestion of contaminated seafood.
Vessel sewage has a high capacity for reducing dissolved oxygen
in bodies of water. Although the volume of wastewater discharged
from vessels is typically small, the organic substances in the wastewater
are highly concentrated. These organics can lead to low levels of
dissolved oxygen where vessel traffic is high. Even treated wastewater
can have adverse effects on the environment. Another effect of vessel
sewage occurs when treated wastewaters are discharged from vessels.
These wastewaters are treated with chemical additives, such as chlorine
and formaldehyde, which are generally toxic to marine life. For
more information about the impact of sewage
click here.
Boating and Our Future
Sustainable
Development: For Today and Tomorrow
Activities
that are "sustainable" can be maintained. "Development" is business
expansion or growth. Put the two together for sustainable development
and it's defined as growth or expansion that can be maintained over
decades. For coastal communities, it means using natural resources
for growth and development in a way that keeps these resources for
generations to use. In 1972, Congress created a federal law, the
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), announcing a national need to
balance economic development with environmental protection of the
coast. In this way, coastal management became an ideal vehicle for
state and federal governments to practice sustainable development.
The CZMA calls citizens, industries and state governments alike
to encourage sustainable development by:
Balancing ecological, cultural, historic, and aesthetic
values with economic development;
Restoring deteriorating waterfronts and ports;
Providing greater public access to the coast;
Giving priority along the coast to industries that cannot
exist elsewhere, such as fisheries, recreation, ports and shipping;
and
Funding "special area management plans" that increase protection
of significant natural resources and allow reasonable economic
growth.
Governments
are applying this concept to waterfront revitalization. In rekindling
the business aura on a waterfront, local and state governments invite
businesses into the area that take care of the water resources.
Planning committees give preference to businesses that depend on
the water for survival because these businesses aren't likely to
move elsewhere and abandon the waterfront.
The Human Factor
Without a
long-term plan, growth and development can harm the resources we
need to continue growing. For example, sewage discharge from poorly
located shorefront development will contaminate bays and cause fisheries
and beaches to close; intensive private development will eventually
strain fresh drinking water sources; and coastal storms and mudslides
will destroy homes and hotels that are located too close to the
shoreline. In the end, the entire nation pays the price of unsustainable
development.
The Boater's Role
Unless boating
organizations, individual boaters, marinas, and the recreational
boating industry are part of the solution they are liable to be
seen as part of the problem. While increasing laws, regulations,
management measures and other efforts have largely benefited recreational
boaters and the aquatic environment, increasing control on boating
activities may eventually limit access and drive up costs to an
unacceptable level. Therefore, the recreational boating community
should be active; not to fight the rising tide, but to encourage
clean boating and environmental stewardship at all levels.
Clean Marinas
Marinas and
recreational boating are very popular uses of coastal waters. The
growth of recreational boating, along with the growth of coastal
development in general, has led to a growing awareness of the need
to protect the environmental quality of our waterways. Because marinas
are located right at the water's edge, there is a strong potential
for marina waters to become contaminated with pollutants generated
from the various activities that occur at marinas, such as boat
cleaning, fueling operations, and marine head discharge, or from
the entry of storm water runoff from parking lots and hull maintenance
and repair areas into marina basins. It seems that once facility
owners and managers take the first few steps to protect the environment,
they quickly take many other steps toward facility improvement.
And the process continues as they strive to become even better after
seeing the positive reaction of their customers following environmental
progress. All felt good that their business activities were also
better, and they have plans to continue making headway toward cleaner
marinas and clean boating.
Pollution
prevention uses source reduction and environmentally sound recycling
to reduce or eliminate these impacts. Marinas can achieve a variety
of benefits including lower operating costs, improved worker safety,
and increased customer satisfaction from using pollution prevention.
In addition, the use of pollution prevention is essential for marinas
to meet the requirements of federal and state nonpoint source pollution
and storm water programs. Common marina services can range from
hull maintenance activities (including cleaning and painting), engine
maintenance and repair, fueling operations and boater education.
Marinas Hull Maintenance
Activities
For hull maintenance
activities involving paint removal, there are a number of alternatives
to the commonly used chemical strippers. In many marina situations,
these alternatives may be less toxic and less expensive. Mechanical
sanders and scrapers equipped with vacuums are effective at removing
paint in a way that prevents migration of debris and residue. Abrasive
blasting technologies utilizing sand, plastic media, metal shot,
and cryogenics are currently being used in many industries to remove
paint. In addition, high pressure water jet stripping can be used
and incorporated with technologies to recycle the used water.
If chemical
stripping agents are used, it may be possible to substitute less
toxic agents or to use a smaller volume of the present agent. In
addition, solvent strippers can be recycled using an onsite still.
There are also offsite solvent recovery services available. Operating
procedures and employee training can help ensure that only the minimum
amount of agent is used, further minimizing waste generation.
Factors that
need to be evaluated when selecting a paint-stripping technology
include hull construction, type of paint to be removed, volume and
characteristic of waste generated, and the cost of waste disposal.
Sources of additional information on these technologies are provided
at the end of this fact sheet.
Pollution
prevention measures for boat painting operations include technology
changes, material substitution and good operating practices. High
volume, low pressure (HVLP) painting equipment can reduce paint
emissions as well as improve paint application and minimize cost.
Other painting technologies, such as air-assisted airless and electrostatic
application equipment, are other environmentally sound alternatives
to the conventional high pressure spray application. The proper
training and instruction of spray paint operators will further reduce
paint emissions.
Painting operations
at marinas should also include the evaluation of less toxic substitutes
for antifouling paints. The purpose of these paints is to prevent
or minimize marine growth on hulls. Less toxic alternatives are
becoming more available for use on boat bottoms. For some surfaces
not immersed in water, such as boat interiors, waste reduction can
be achieved by using water-based paints in place of solvent- based
paints.
When performing
hull maintenance activities, it is essential that work areas are
organized and best management practices are set up to further eliminate
or reduce the creation of pollution at the source. This will minimize
the environmental impact from cleaning and painting activities.
Painting operations, like other hull maintenance activities, should
occur in an enclosed work area. Where practical, these activities
should take place inside a building or under a roof to minimize
contaminated runoff. Containment pads with dikes of impervious surfaces
(concrete) should be installed. These measures will reduce overspray
and prevent contamination of work area surfaces and runoff into
adjacent waters.
If these areas
are not available, plastic sheeting can be used to create a temporary
containment pad. A PVC hose or pipe can be rolled up in the edges
of the plastic sheeting to create a dike. Plastic sheeting or other
screening material can be used to create an enclosed work area.
These measures will prevent runoff of debris, residuals, and other
pollutants and allow for the proper segregation and collection of
waste streams.
Boat cleaning
activities in the slip or dockside can also present water quality
problems. Many products used for cleaning may be harmful to the
marine environment. Less toxic substitutes such as phosphate-free
and biodegradable soaps are now readily available. In addition,
more frequent cleaning with fresh water using a soft, non-abrasive
sponge can minimize marine growth and prolong the life of hull coatings.
Aside from
routine boat maintenance, it is recommended that these activities
be scheduled during the boating off-season. This allows the boat
to be removed from the water and activities to occur in a more suitable
work area location. Under no circumstances should in-the-water hull
scraping and paint removal activities be allowed.
Good housekeeping
measures, such as regularly scheduled work area inspections and
yard cleanups, will also prevent the migration of pollutants to
adjacent waters. Properly designed work areas for chemical storage
will minimize the potential for spills. Storage areas should have
restricted access and provide for the containment of spills and
leaks. Drums and other containers should be in good condition and
kept securely closed when not in use.
Marinas Engine
Repair and Maintenance
Many significant
problems associated with boat engine repair and maintenance can
be eliminated through pollution prevention. Common waste streams
generated from these activities include spent engine fluids, batteries,
worn metal parts, and waste solvents. Marina operators have a number
of options available to reduce or recycle these waste streams.
Proper management
of spent engine fluids, such as waste oil and used anti-freeze,
will prevent these materials from contaminating nearby surface waters.
Individual waste streams should be collected in separate containers
and segregated from other waste streams including trash and debris.
These measures will reduce the volume of waste to be managed and
improve the recycling capability of the waste streams. Marinas working
together can implement a recycling program for their area using
an outside service.
Waste solvents
from parts-cleaning operations can be recovered by using an onsite
distillation unit. In addition, there are offsite solvent recovery
services available to the marina operator. Hazardous wastes from
solvent cleaning operations can be completely eliminated by switching
to an alternative cleaning method such as an aqueous cleaning system.
Citrus- based cleaners are also an effective substitute.
Worn parts
and scrap metal can be sold to a parts remanufacturer or metal recycler.
Batteries can also be recycled along with non-hazardous waste such
as cardboard, plastic and aluminum.
Proper housekeeping
and spill control methods will help eliminate spillage of engine
fluids and solvents. Drip pans can be used for product recovery
and to prevent loss or runoff. Equipment is available for product
transfer from drums to further prevent spills from occurring.
Marinas and Fuel
Station Activities
Fueling operations
are a common source of water pollution due to overfills and spills.
Marinas can prevent such incidents and prepare for spills by developing
a spill prevention plan. The plan should address proper procedures
and maintenance of fuel station equipment. In addition, supplies
and equipment for spill response should be identified. Booms and
other sorbent materials should be immediately available and easily
deployable. The plan will also help minimize environmental impact
in the event of a spill.
Fuel pump
nozzles should be equipped with automatic back pressure shut-off
to prevent overfilling the fuel tank. Fuel nozzles should not be
equipped with a clip designed to keep the nozzle open during refueling
activities. Also, the use of fuel/air separators on fuel tank vents
will further prevent fuel overflows from occurring. Marinas can
make these devices available and promote the their use to boat owners.
Fuel storage
tanks should be properly designed and periodically tested to check
the integrity of the system. Storage systems should have secondary
containment. Overflow alarms on tanks can further reduce the chances
of a spill occurring. Accurate fuel storage record keeping can be
used to verify that fuel is not being lost through leakage.
Marinas and Boater Education
Marinas can
further enhance the quality of the environment by educating boaters
on proper waste minimization. A well-operated marina with an established
pollution prevention program will set a positive example for boaters,
resulting in increased environmental protection. Marinas can provide
resources and establish activities in several different areas to
educate boaters and prevent pollution.
It is essential
that marinas provide recycling facilities for all types of solid
waste such as plastic, glass, aluminum, and paper. Marinas should
encourage boaters to use recyclable products to reduce the solid
waste impact on the environment. Specially designated recycling
areas should be conveniently located and easily identifiable for
boater use.
Marinas should
also designate areas for boat maintenance and repair. These areas
should be well maintained and include covered receptacles for non-
recyclable solid wastes. Storm drains located throughout the marina
area should be clearly identified to prevent the dumping of waste
materials. In addition, marinas can provide recycling of waste oil
and antifreeze from these activities.
As a further
service to boaters, information on county household hazardous waste
collection events can be provided by marinas.
For marinas
that offer fishing charter services, an area should be established
for cleaning fish. Sound fish waste management practices, including
the proper disposal of fish waste, should be established. Marinas
may also be able to a implement a fish composting program.
Marinas can
establish policies prohibiting certain activities that threaten
the marine environment. These policies can be established in a lease
or contract with boaters. These policies can address proper boat
maintenance procedures and waste recycling and disposal.
Newsletters,
notices in monthly bills, postings and informal visits with boaters
can further promote the benefits of pollution prevention. Topics
such as proper disposal of marine sanitation devices (MSD), less
toxic hull maintenance materials, and recycling will continue to
remind boaters about environmental protection. Inexpensive awards,
prizes or other recognition can be established for outstanding efforts
made by boaters.
Boaters who
are aware of the positive effects that clean boating and environmental
stewardship can have can make a difference by rewarding clean marinas
and clean manufacturers with your business, by obtaining and sharing
relevant information and by getting involved in the process.
For more information
about clean marinas
click here.
How to Be a Clean Boater
The small,
extra efforts and expenses required to practice clean boating and
good environmental stewardship make sense economically, for our
family's health and safety, for the environment, and for the future
of recreational boating. Clean Boating includes all aspects of boat
maintenance, operation, and housekeeping. Care must be taken during
cleaning, sanding, painting, fueling, motoring, pumpout, and trash
disposal to minimize potential effects on the aquatic environment.
Here are a few considerations for the clean boater. For more information
click here.
Cleaning Your Boat:
When washing
a boat's deck and hull surface, people often use products that contain
toxic ingredients such as chlorine, phosphates and ammonia. Just
as these chemicals act as degreasers on the boat, they also act
as degreasers on fish -- drying the natural oil fish need for their
gills to take in oxygen. To reduce your need for toxic products,
follow these tips:
Rinse your boat only with fresh water after each use. This
will reduce your need for cleansers and heavy-duty products.
Use old-fashioned cleaning methods, including baking soda,
vinegar, lemon juice, borax and "elbow grease".
Sanding Your Boat:
Sanding and
scraping your boat can release noxious paint and varnish particles
into the air and water around you. Always sand and scrape on shore,
away from the water and preferably in a dedicated work area. Use
a vacuum sander, a tool that collects and stores the dust before
it can get into the water or into your eyes and lungs!
Painting Your Boat:
To reduce
organism growth, many boat owners apply anti-fouling paints to the
boat bottom. However, most of these paints contain toxic metals
such as copper, mercury, arsenic or tributyltin (TBT). All have
severe impacts on human health and the underwater ecosystem; the
use of some, such as TBT, has even been banned by federal law. To
learn more about laws regulating bottom paints, as well as alternative
painting products, contact your state boating agency and your local
marine supply store.
Fueling and Bildge
Maintenance:
Take precautions
not to overfill your fuel tank. If you overflow onto the boat or
dock, wipe up the spill with a rag; do not hose it into the water.
If you do spill fuel or oil into the water, do not disperse it with
detergent or soap! That only sends the problem down to the seafloor
where it becomes more toxic and more difficult to clean up. If the
spill is large or if it discolors the surface of the water, you
must report it to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802
or to the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF channels 16. Failure to do so
is illegal and can cost you civil penalties and/or criminal sanctions.
Clean Motoring:
If you become
grounded, do not attempt to motor your way out. This could cause
serious damage not only to your motor and propellers, but also to
the seafloor and local marine organisms. If you sight a marine mammal
such as a manatee, dolphin or whale, slow down and keep a safe distance
of at least 100 yards. It is illegal to feed, harass, molest or
injure a marine mammal.
Pumpouts:
Just like
lawn fertilizers and manure, human waste contains nutrients that
can unnaturally stimulate algae growth and deplete the amount of
oxygen in the water. Although it is also a repulsive visual pollutant,
our primary concern about sewage in the water is its potential for
carrying disease-causing pathogens to swimmers and shellfish.
Waterborne
illnesses attributed to sewage pollution include hepatitis, typhoid,
cholera, and gastroenteritis. The indicators used to detect the
presence of sewage pollution are not the pathogens themselves, but
rather a type of bacteria called fecal coliform bacteria. Fecal
coliform found in water is an indicator of the presence of human
waste and the potential harm for disease. When fecal coliform levels
exceed designated public health thresholds, swimming beaches and
shellfish beds may be closed, which can hurt tourism and deteriorate
the quality of life for all of us.
Untreated
sewage and other nutrient loading in a water body can come from
various land-based sources including faulty residential, municipal,
or marina septic treatment systems, poor farming management practices,
or direct discharges from shoreside facilities and boats.
Consequently,
discharge of raw sewage from a vessel within the three nautical
mile limit of U.S. territorial waters is illegal. (The Chesapeake
Bay and Puget Sound are considered to be within the three-mile limit).
For boaters, this means that any direct flow-thru systems must be
secured while a vessel is navigating inland waters or within three
miles of shore.
Clean Trash Discharge:
Stow all loose
items, plastic bags, drink cans, and other articles properly so
they do not blow overboard. Never discard your garbage overboard.
Whatever you take aboard, bring back. Under the Marine Plastic Pollution
Research and Control Act, and the international agreement MARPOL
Annex V, it is illegal to dispose of plastic, or garbage mixed with
plastic, into any U.S. waters. The discharge of any garbage is prohibited
in the Great Lakes and connecting tributary waters.
Other Sources of Pollution
Polluted runoff
is a major source of water pollution causing beach closings and
advisories. More than half the nation's coastal water pollution
comes from runoff. Therefore, clean boating and environmental stewardship
begins at home, even if we live far from the nearest river. It is
storm water from urban, suburban, and agricultural land that eventually
supplies the pollutants that may affect our enjoyment of the water.
For more information
click here.
The American Boating Association
PO Box 456
Centerville, MA 02632
Tel: 508-534-9893
