New England Regional Marina Meeting

EPA Laboratory, Chelmsford, MA
March 30, 2006

Meeting Purpose: Marina owners need to have a clear understanding of their options for meeting required and desirable environmental practices. This meeting, which was proposed by the New England Marine Trade Associations, addressed some of the key environmental challenges facing these facilities.

Background: A New England Marina Initiative has been conducted over the past several years. Under this effort, EPA, state environmental agencies and marine trades associations have partnered in providing assistance to marinas. As a result, New England’s marina owners are more aware of their environmental responsibilities and have made improvements as measured under the initiative. In addition, EPA and state environmental agencies have conducted some inspections of marinas. These efforts have brought more attention to the challenging environmental issues that marinas face which are of national interest. A Regional Marina Workgroup of state and EPA assistance providers has been established. Current marina workgroup members include: Mary Beth Hart and Rick Huntley for Connecticut, Stephen McKenna and Robin Lacy (both of MA CZM), Sara Johnson and Jacquie Colburn of New Hampshire, Eric Beck and Joe Migliore of Rhode Island, Pamela Parker of Maine, and Judy Mirro and Gary Gulka of Vermont.

New England has extensive shoreline areas that are among our most precious resources. Marinas located along these shoreline areas can significantly impact the environment, especially on the aggregate, due to their operational characteristics. In addition, because of their location and operations marinas provide important access to our waterways, which is of growing interest, and they are often a public focal point. Recent studies have also shown that marinas can play an important role in the health and well being of our citizens and are an economic catalyst, for such activities as tourism and recreational boating. Focusing on marinas is appropriate since many marina owners are planning whether to expand, renovate, or sell (often to residential/commercial developers).