Londontowne Marina in Edgewater is striving to protect the resource that supports the recreational boating industry in Maryland: clean water. By signing the Clean Marina Pledge, owner Zeb Johnson Jr. and manager Glenda Felmey have committed to do their part to "keep Maryland's waterways free of harmful chemicals, excess nutrients, and debris." Seventy-two boating facilities in Maryland have taken the Clean Marina Pledge.

To fulfill the Clean Marina pledge, each marina operator will implement measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage disposal; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; stormwater runoff; and facilities management.

Signing the Clean Marina Pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally-responsible marina through the Department of Natural Resources' new Maryland Clean Marina Initiative. The Initiative promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas and recreational boats. To achieve full standing as a Clean Marina, marina operators must adopt a number of the recommendations in the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook. The guidebook provides a comprehensive review of pollution prevention measures. Recognized Clean Marinas may use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising and on their letterhead. They receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site (www.dnr.state.md.us/boating), and promotion in Clean Marina publications. The goal of the program is to certify 25 percent of Maryland's 600 marinas as Clean Marinas by 2004. To date, nine marinas have been certified as Clean Marinas. Boaters are encouraged to patronize Maryland's Clean Marinas.

For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, call DNR at (877) 620-8DNR, extension 8770.